I recently interviewed Geordie Stewart (@geordie_stewart on Instagram) on the Rox Lyfe podcast. Geordie was part of the winning mixed doubles team at the HYROX London Olympia event in May 2024, finishing in an impressive a time of 55:35 (along with his doubles partner Kate Harrison). But he has much more of a story to tell over and above his impressive HYROX performances…
Geordie is the author of three books. The first book covers his journey to become the youngest person to climb the 7 summits. His second details the first part of his 22,000-mile solo bike trip around the world, and the third focuses on his training at Sandhurst for the British Army.
Bear Grylls has described him as “A true pioneer and an inspiration for tenacity and resilience.” Sir Ranulph Fiennes has said that Geordie is “An ambitious young man with genuine determination” and that his “attitude is inspiring.”
Below Geordie shares some details of his incredible adventures and his journey from an energetic child to one of the youngest climbers to complete the Seven Summits to (of course) winning at HYROX!
Early Days: The Beginning of an Adventurer
Geordie’s story begins long before his record-breaking climbs. He told me, as a child, he was always full of energy – so much so that his parents encouraged him to go for runs before school to burn off excess energy! ” I was very active as a kid, often running, climbing trees, and riding my mountain bike. I played team sports like football, rugby, cricket, and tennis. My fond memories are just trying to do stuff outside, being in nature,” Geordie shared.
The spark that ignited Geordie’s passion for climbing came from a book by Bear Grylls titled ‘Facing Up’. The book, which chronicles Bear’s ascent of Mount Everest, struck a chord with a 17-year-old Geordie. It wasn’t long before he decided that he, too, wanted to conquer the world’s highest peak. “I read Bear’s book, and something about it just clicked. I thought, ‘This is what I want to do,’ even though I had no climbing experience at the time,” Geordie explained. This newfound passion ultimately led him to research the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent, and set out on a journey to climb them all.
His path to Everest was anything but straightforward; he spent years training, fundraising, and embarking on various expeditions around the world, all while holding down multiple jobs to fund his dream. His first major climb was in South America, where he tackled the highest peak outside the Himalayas. At just 18 years old, he was the youngest in his climbing group by a decade. “It was a pretty humbling experience, being surrounded by people from all walks of life and all ages. Climbing is a very egalitarian activity, and it was part of a longer journey for me. It was a grounding experience, living out of a tent and dealing with altitude.”.
By the time he reached Everest at 20, he had already faced numerous challenges, but nothing could prepare him for the harsh realities of the world’s highest mountain. On his first attempt, Geordie had to make the heart-wrenching decision to turn back just hours from the summit: “I was about 150 meters from the top, but I was exhausted, alone, and the risk was just too great. It was a huge learning curve, involving a chaotic summit day with equipment failures and health issues. I decided to turn back 150 meters from the summit to avoid becoming another statistic. It was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Geordie admitted.
Undeterred by his initial setback, Geordie returned to Everest the following year, armed with more experience, better preparation, and a determination to finish what he had started. This time, he reached the summit, fulfilling a dream that had consumed him for years. “Summiting the next year was incredible. I spent months at base camp, constantly motivated by the sight of Everest. Reaching the top was a magical, awe-inspiring experience. I called my parents from the summit, took a few photos, and then reflected on the journey during my descent.” Geordie recounted.
Geordie documented this journey in his book, ‘In Search of Sisu’. “”Sisu” is a Finnish word meaning courage, grit, inner resilience, and belief. I discovered it while climbing in Finland when someone described me as having sisu. It perfectly encapsulates my experiences of pushing limits and expanding comfort zones.
A Return to Discipline: Sandhurst and the Military
After completing the Seven Summits, Geordie finished university and turned his attention to another challenge: the military. He enrolled at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, one of the world’s most prestigious military training institutions.
The rigorous training and discipline required at Sandhurst marked a significant shift from his previous adventures, but it was a challenge Geordie embraced: “Sandhurst was an incredibly intense experience – it transforms civilians into officers in a year. The level of discipline, leadership, and teamwork required was unlike anything I had encountered before. It’s a traditional process with a focus on physical and mental toughness, leadership, and resilience. While the strict rules and conformity was frustrating at times, I can appreciate it was effective at instilling necessary values and skills.” Geordie shared.
Geordie’s time at Sandhurst culminated in his second book, ‘Hurry Up and Wait’, which offers a candid account of the highs and lows of military training. The book explores the emotional and psychological demands placed on cadets, as well as the camaraderie that develops among those who endure the gruelling process together.
“Writing Hurry Up and Wait was a way for me to process everything I had gone through at Sandhurst. It’s a place that really pushes you to your limits, not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well,” Geordie explained.
He felt it was a helpful experience for his competing much later in HYROX: “Sandhurst’s training made us well-rounded athletes, capable and resilient. Many activities, like long marches and obstacle courses, align well with HYROX’s demands. The military mentality of pushing through challenges is also crucial in HYROX.”
A New Challenge: Cycling Around the World
As if climbing the highest mountains on each continent, and making it through Sandhurst, wasn’t enough Geordie’s thirst for adventure led him to take on another monumental challenge – cycling around the world. This epic journey covered over 22,000 miles and took him through 24 countries, testing not only his physical endurance but also his mental resilience: “Cycling around the world was an entirely different kind of challenge compared to mountaineering. It’s about sustained effort over a long period, dealing with different cultures, climates, and the sheer loneliness of being on the road for months,” Geordie explained.
This adventure was not just about pushing his physical limits, but also about self-discovery and exploring the world in a deeply personal way. There were moments of intense solitude, where I was alone in the wilderness, and others of incredible human connection, meeting people who would offer kindness and hospitality without hesitation,” Geordie reflected.
Winning at HYROX
Geordie’s passion for pushing limits has now found a new outlet: HYROX!
In particular, he competed at the huge event at London Olympia in May 2024, where he was part of the fastest Mixed Doubles team of the weekend, finishing in a time of 55:35, along with his doubles partner Kate Harrison.
“HYROX is a completely different challenge compared to mountaineering. It’s more about speed, strength, and strategy. The atmosphere at HYROX London was electric; it was a real mix of people, from elite athletes to first-timers, all pushing themselves to their limits. What I love about HYROX is that it’s a mental game as much as a physical one. You’re constantly pushing yourself to go faster, to lift more, to keep moving even when your body is screaming at you to stop,” Geordie shared.
You can listen to the full interview with Geordie on the Rox Lyfe podcast.
