Geri Winkler
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Geri Winkler (* 13. April 1956 in Vienna in Austria) is an Austrian mountaineer, who as first insulin-dependent diabetic was on top of Mount Everest.
Since 1984 Geri Winkler is a teacher for mathematics, French and German language in Vienna.
Since September 1984 he suffers from diabetes mellitus type 1, that means, he regularly has to inject insulin to survive.
In April 1987, he joined the Vienna marathon, for the first time a diabetic patient succeeded in a marathon.
Then he travelled in Africa, in the Himalaya and in the south of the Sahara (Hoggar, Algeria).
In the 90ies he climbed the highest mountains of earth, e.g. the Popocatepetl (5452 m) in Mexico or the Muztagh Ata (7546 m) in China.
In summer 2001 he climbed the Elbrus (5642 m) in Russia, the highest mountain of Europe
In winter 2002/2003 he climbed the Aconcagua (6962 m) in Argentina, the highest mountain of South America.
In winter 2004/2005 he is on Mount Vinson (5140 m), the highest mountain of the Antarctica.
On 20. May 2006 Geri Winkler was the first insulin-dependent diabetic on top of Mount Everest, after starting on bycicle in October 2005 at Dead Sea for the tour to the Himalaya In 6 month he crossed 7 countries and overcame height of 9258 meters.
[edit] Literature
Winkler G. (Ed.) Aufbruch in die Grenzenlosigkeit. Die Freiheit eines Diabetikerlebens. (German lang.). 2000. ISBN 3-9501240-0-4.
