Reinhold Messner is an Italian mountaineer, adventurer, and author, born on September 17, 1944, in South Tyrol, Italy. He is best known for being the first person to climb all 14 of the world's peaks over 8,000 meters without supplemental oxygen. His remarkable achievements in high-altitude climbing have made him a prominent figure in the mountaineering community. In addition to his climbing feats, Messner has written numerous books about his adventures and the philosophy of climbing. He is also an advocate for environmental conservation and has established the Messner Mountain Museum to promote awareness of mountain culture and ecology.