Competitor bio:

Martin is a 45-year-old entrepreneur from Austria and a father of three. Balancing business and family life has given him the freedom—and the discipline—to pursue goals that many would consider unrealistic or nearly impossible. He intentionally sets objectives so far beyond the ordinary that they demand complete commitment, relentless preparation, and the refusal to stop short of his true potential. This mindset has led Martin to a series of extraordinary achievements. In 2024, he successfully reached the summit of Mount Everest from the Tibetan side, becoming the first Western climber to do so via that route in five years. He is on track to complete the Seven Summits by 2026, having only one of the world’s highest continental peaks remaining. Along the way, he has also learned to pilot a Formula 1 race car, flown to the stratosphere in a MiG-29, and taken on numerous challenges that require intense focus and preparation. Driven by a desire to inspire others, Martin founded the MyIdol Foundation, an organization dedicated to education and inspiration. Through the foundation, he supports the construction and long-term maintenance of schools for children who otherwise would not have access to proper education. While climbing one of the Seven Summits in Indonesia, Martin met someone who introduced him to the World Marathon Challenge—just four days after Martin completed his very first marathon in Berlin. Despite the daunting nature of the challenge, he committed immediately. Since then, he has been training daily with his coach, pushing himself toward a goal he openly acknowledges as extreme, yet deeply meaningful. For Martin, these pursuits are not about proving anything to others, but about exploring the limits of his own potential. His ambition for 2026 is bold: to complete the World Marathon Challenge, finish the Seven Summits, and—if he secures an entry—run the World Marathon Majors, all within the same year. It is a demanding path, but one he embraces fully, step by step.