Who is Maxime Chaya?

Maxime Edgard Chaya

Lebanon's foremost sportsman and climber, Maxime Chaya was the first person from his country to hoist its flag atop Everest, and he did so en route to ascending the highest mountain on every continent - the Seven Summits - while also skiing to the North and South Poles. Having experienced a multi-cultural education in Lebanon, France, Canada and Greece due to his homeland's civil war, Maxime went on to graduate with honors from the London School of Economics. He now regularly visits local schools and clubs to help motivate youngsters to "Climb Their Own Everest". He has been knighted twice for his achievements, and lives just north of his native Beirut, at sea level, with his wife Poupa and their children Edgard and Kelly.

Lebanese (Nickname: Max)
Married to Pascale Kesrouani in 1989
Father of Edgard (1994), and Kelly (1996)

Father Name: Edgar - Mother Name: Renee - Sister Name: Caline - Brothers Names: Nabil & Karim

Born and raised in Lebanon - Born on December 16, 1961
Schooling in Lebanon, France, Greece and Canada. Speaks English, French and Arabic.
GCE A Level grades: 2 A and 1 B. Head Boy, Most Outstanding Sportsman.
B.Sc. (Econ.) Honors degree from the London School of Economics - 1983.

Avid sportsman since childhood
Practiced several sports, most at top level
Captain and National champion in several disciplines
Represented Lebanon at several international venues
Trophies won at National and International level

Major International sporting achievements:
• 2nd overall at the “Trophée du Nil” - Egypt - 1998
• 3rd overall at the “Raid Thai” - Thailand - 1999
• Winner at the “Kenya Sports Safari” - Kenya - 2001
• 23rd at the UCI World Masters Championships - Canada - 2001
• 1st Lebanese “Ironman” triathlete - Holland - 2002
• Winner of the Redbull Sno-to-Sea – Lebanon - Four times 2003 to 2006

Climbed peaks, and reached landmarks:
• Mont Blanc (France) - 2001
• Cho Oyo (Tibet / Nepal) - 2003
• Mount Aspiring (New Zealand) - 2004
• The Geographical North Pole (the Arctic Circle) - 2004
• The South Pole (Antarctica) - 2005
• Mount Ama Dablam (Nepal) - 2005
• The Matterhorn (Switzerland / Italy) - 2005

Climbed successfully all Seven Summits:
• Mount Kilimanjaro (5,963m) Tanzania - September 2001
• Mount McKinley / Denali (6,195m) - Alaska - June 2003
• Aconcagua (6,962m) - Argentina - January 2004
• Vinson Massif (4,897m), Antarctica - December 2004
• Mount Elbrus (5,633m) Russia - July 2005
• Carstensz Pyramid (4,884m) Indonesia - November 2005
• Mount Everest (8,850m) - Tibet / Nepal - May 2006

2009: Part of the Peary-Henson Centennial Anniversary Expedition to the North Pole, a 420-nautical mile journey across the ice.

Knighted “National Order of the Cedar” in December 2003, and again in May 2006 with a grade of “Officer”.