NEW YORK, NYC: For most people, standing atop Mount Everest even once would be the achievement of a lifetime. For Jamaica-born mountaineer Rohan Freeman, it is a feat he has now accomplished twice.

At approximately 6:45 a.m. on May 23, Freeman once again stood on the summit of Mount Everest, nearly 29,000 feet above sea level, proudly holding the Jamaican flag high above the world. His latest ascent comes 17 years after he made history in 2009 as the first Jamaican to reach the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

The achievement is even more remarkable given that Freeman has lived with asthma throughout his life. Born and raised in Somerton, a rural community in St James near Montego Bay, his journey from the hills of western Jamaica to the roof of the world is a story of determination, resilience, and relentless pursuit of excellence.