O’Malley out to prove age is just a number on Everest

Climbing Mt. Everest is one of the most impressive and adrenaline-rush-inducing feats for humans, and an Illinois, USA, native not only plans to add it to his list of achievements — he also intends to break a world record in the process.

At 61, Brian O’Malley hopes to be among the top 10 oldest people to summit Earth’s highest peak. And if he succeeds, he’ll be another local who holds an Everest record, joining Naperville’s Lucy Westlake, who at age 18 in 2022 became the youngest American to reach the peak.

“I’m going to summit, 100 percent, that is my goal,” he told Patch.com in a phone call. “No bones about it. … When I do summit, it’s an inspiration to a lot of our people … not to doubt themselves, go for the challenges. Don’t be afraid.”

Born and raised in Aurora, O’Malley isn’t an experienced mountaineer but said he’s been training his whole life. A graduate of Marmion Academy, he went on to serve in the U.S. Navy before settling down with his wife in Virginia. In the 40 years since he has been out of service, he has suffered from back problems until a year and a half ago, when he had a life-changing surgery.

“I’ve never felt better in my life,” O’Malley said. “I said, ‘Well, I’m not getting any younger.’ I’d like to do something that would challenge myself and, in the meantime, inspire others.”