Italian, Polish climbers win prestigious Spanish prize
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Spain's Princess of Asturias prize for sports this year has been awarded to two European mountain climbers — Italian Reinhold Messner and Poland's Krzysztof Wielicki.
The judges said Wednesday the pair embody the essence of mountain-climbing, setting new levels of accomplishment and providing inspiration for younger generations.
Messner was one of the first two climbers to scale Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen, 40 years ago.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Wielicki led an expedition earlier this year to make the first winter ascent of K2, the world's second-highest peak. Severe weather denied the climbers their goal, but Wielicki has vowed to try again.
The 50,000-euro ($59,000) award is one of eight Asturias prizes handed out yearly by a foundation named for Crown Princess Leonor. Others categories include art, social sciences and scientific research.