Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is a British explorer and writer who served in the British Army for eight years. His career as an explorer spans decades, with Fiennes being the first person to visit both the North Pole and the South Pole by surface means and to completely cross Antarctica on foot. Some of his notable expeditions include leading a team up the White Nile on a hovercraft in 1969, traversing Norway's Jostedalsbreen Glacier in 1970, and undertaking the Transglobe Expedition between 1979 and 1982. In the latter, Fiennes and his team journeyed around the world on its polar axis, using surface transport only - a feat never achieved before or since.

Fiennes has shown remarkable resilience, despite suffering from a heart attack and undergoing a double coronary artery bypass operation, he completed seven marathons in seven days on seven continents in 2003. In 2008, at the age of 64, Fiennes climbed Mount Everest, becoming the oldest British person to do so and the first person to have climbed Everest and crossed both polar ice-caps. Apart from his exploration activities, Fiennes's contributions to literature are noteworthy, having authored over 20 fiction and non-fiction books, including "The Feather Men" and a biography of Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

Fiennes's exploration activities have earned him numerous accolades and recognition. He received the Sultan's Bravery Medal while serving with the Omani Army in 1970. He was also awarded several honorary doctorates and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1993 for his "human endeavor and charitable services." He was also awarded the Polar Medal in 1986 for his "outstanding service to British Polar exploration and research" and received a second clasp to the Polar Medal in 1994. Fiennes's versatility extends to his appearances on television programmes such as "Top Gear" and game shows like "Countdown," where he shared stories about his life and explorations.