[Retric]

That's a great reason to be the first to climb Everest, but it seems lacking to be the 4,000th.

[kalleboo]

"Why do I climb the mountain? Because I'm in love" - William Shatner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kestt5BI3eg

[Ntrails]

Why do people run marathons? It's a personal challenge. Hundreds of thousands of people do non-record breaking runs which are pain, suffering and followed by elation at success.

That he was the first was a big part of it, but the reality is remove the words "never been climbed" and the sentence still works. Climbing everest, running a marathon, [insert challenging sports thing here] - each person strives within their own measure and tries to exceed their own expectations.