The young boy who stole hearts with his performance, Anand, is now known by his real name, Aaryan Balaji, and has transformed into a remarkable adventurer. When he was just 13 years old, Aaryan has achieved feats that most adults only dream of, solidifying his place as a trailblazer in the world of mountaineering and adventure sports.
Defying his young age, Aaryan holds the world record as the youngest person to trek to the Everest Base Camp and climb Mt. Kalapattar, both of which he accomplished at the tender age of six in May 2012. Trekking to the Southern Base Camp of Mt. Everest, located at an altitude of 5,364 meters, is a daunting task, yet Aaryan succeeded, earning a spot in mountaineering history. He also scaled Mt. Kalapattar at an altitude of 5,554 meters on May 15, 2012. Adding to his list of achievements, Aaryan became the youngest to complete an undersea dive of eight meters in March 2012.
But his journey doesn't stop there. In addition to his mountaineering feats, Aaryan is also the first and only Indian unicyclist to represent the country at the World Unicycling Championships held in Montreal, Canada, in 2014. For his extraordinary contributions to adventure sports, he was awarded the National Child Award in 2014 and the prestigious Gandhi Seva Medal in 2012 for his commitment to social responsibility and community service.
Inspired by his father, Commander Balaji, an avid adventurer and expeditionist who has successfully trekked to Mt. Everest and both the South and North Poles. Aaryan continues to set new benchmarks.
When asked about his journey in an exclusive interview, Aaryan shared his passion for adventure, the challenges he has faced, and his short-term goals. Despite his extraordinary accomplishments, Aaryan remains grounded and ambitious, with a long list of dreams waiting to be fulfilled.
Source / Image Credit: vj_mangai