Climbing Elbrus on hands alone: how to make it into the Guinness Book of Records after a terrible tragedy

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Ten years ago, Rustam Nabiev woke up in intensive care with no legs. Having read "The Story of a Real Man" eight times, he realised that he would go on living no matter what. Today, he is one of the country’s most popular bloggers, a record-holding mountaineer, a father of many children and, as he says himself, simply a happy person. At the National Centre RUSSIA, during an event held as part of the 4th All-Russian People’s Award "Voice of Heroes", the para-athlete and public figure Rustam Nabiev shared why the severe injuries could not stop him from fulfilling his dreams.

Rustam Nabiev had been into sports since childhood. After a combat injury in 2015, followed by intensive care and a year of rehabilitation in a military hospital, he realised that sport was the only way to return to a full life. "At that time, society did not accept people with disabilities. It was difficult to find a job even with a prestigious education. Sport became my only way out," he said.

The para-athlete shared that today he has become one of the most popular bloggers in the country. 

"I’ll be frank — today I am probably the most well-known person with a disability in Russia. It’s not my ambition — people decided that. The numbers speak for themselves: last year, when I had not yet reached two million followers, my page had over 500 million views. And those were not only from Russians but also from international audiences," said Rustam Nabiev.

According to him, he first took up sledge hockey and was a candidate for the Russian national team for three years. Later, he realised that team sports were not for him and discovered the mountains. For more than five years now, Rustam Nabiev has been professionally engaged in mountaineering and has set five world records, including one recognised by Guinness. Today, he is the only person in the world who climbs mountains solely using his hands.

"From the outside, it seems impossible that a person without legs could be in the mountains — it’s not a place for people with disabilities. Professional climbers say: ‘It’s impossible.’ I reply: ‘Why is it impossible?’ It’s only impossible because no one has done it before. But that doesn’t mean I can’t. To understand that, you need to try at least once," explained the athlete. 

In 2020, Rustam climbed Mount Manaslu — the highest peak in Russia and Europe — for the first time. The following year, he reached the summit again. He has also conquered mountains in Africa, South America, Georgia, and Turkey. "In this field I found myself — and qualities I didn’t realise I had before," he admitted.

For Rustam Nabiev, the mountains are not only a test of strength and endurance but also a source of inspiration.

"I climb not for the summit but for the path from the base camp to the peak. The summit is a reward for persistence, character and faith in yourself," he said.

According to him, climbing is a real physical challenge. On Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa, he travelled 60 kilometres on his hands. On Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world, he made 105,000 movements with his arms. Russian President Vladimir Putin took notice of his project, and Rustam Nabiev was later awarded the Order of Friendship for strengthening interethnic relations in sport.

"In the mountains, there’s no nationality or politics — people are united by one goal. When they see me, they say: ‘So there are such strong people living in Russia.’ I realise that I represent my country on the global stage, and my example has a strong impact on people," the athlete shared. 

He also spoke about the importance of showing such inspiring stories through social media and the media.

"Even the 'Podvigi' ('Heroic deeds') project inspired me when I saw myself on your page. I realised how important it is to be an example for millions, though before I hadn’t grasped the scale of what I do. Heroes perform feats, save lives. In my case, the feat was simply to survive. In 2016, when I left the hospital, the accessible environment and public attitudes were much worse. People weren’t used to seeing disabled people on the streets. Back then, survival itself was a daily task — and that too was a feat," he noted.

Today, Rustam Nabiev believes that his true achievement lies not only in his records but also in his ability to inspire others. In his words, many people "live inside their phones and few read books", so projects that showcase real people are vital. He stressed that such examples teach others not to ignore someone’s story and to act not for fame, but for humanity.

"Little children who save lives set an example for adults. You must remain human regardless of your status, rank or position," concluded the para-athlete and public figure Rustam Nabiev.