Double amputee Xia's mountainous feat honored

Chinese climber Xia Boyu won the 2019 Laureus Sporting Moment of the Year award on Monday for conquering Qomolangma, aka Mount Everest, on his fifth attempt.

The 69-year-old double amputee, who lost both his legs to frostbite during a 1975 expedition on the Himalayan peak, came out top in a global vote, beating competition from an initial list of 10 nominees that was whittled down to three finalists earlier this month.

After his initial ill-fated attempt on Qomolangma, Xia renewed the challenge in 2014, 2015 and 2016, but saw his dreams shattered by an avalanche, an earthquake and adverse weather, respectively.