János Mészáros

In 1987, János Mészáros was a physical education teacher from Hungary living under Communist rule. He was also, quietly, one of the most extraordinary endurance athletes on earth. That year, he became the first human being to complete a 10× Ironman — a race so extreme no one had ever finished it.

He did it on a NASA space shuttle landing strip in Huntsville, Alabama. He crossed the finish line in 28 hours and 30 minutes, wearing a Hungarian coat of arms jersey, holding the flag of a country whose government had given him $130 and a special travel permit to be there.

He came home. And then he started planning his next expedition.

Over the following decade, János crossed two continents on a bicycle — not for sport, but for multiple sclerosis awareness, a cause that defined his life's mission. He rode through deserts where the temperature hit 50°C. He rode through countries in the middle of political upheaval. He rode until two bikes were destroyed and the support car was, as he described it, "war-wounded."

His patron was the President of Hungary. His sponsors were Kappa and Kodak. He was named Kappa's Athlete of the Year in 1997. He delivered an invitation letter to the World MS Congress. He changed lives along the way — and almost lost his own more than once.

He is still alive. He still remembers every kilometre. And now, for the first time, the world is going to hear his story.