Who Am I?

Born in 1977 in Pontypridd, Wales, Richard Parks is a Welsh adventurer and former professional rugby player who has achieved incredible things both on the sports field and in some of the world’s most extreme environments. After a serious injury ended his rugby career, he didn’t give up — instead, he found a whole new adventure waiting for him.

What Am I Known For?

Richard grew up loving rugby; he worked incredibly hard to become a professional player and achieve his dream of playing for Wales. Playing professional rugby taught him important lessons about teamwork, discipline and mental toughness that would later help him survive in the world's harshest places.

In 2009, Richard’s rugby career ended suddenly when he suffered a serious shoulder injury. For someone who had dedicated his entire life to rugby, this felt devastating. Many people might have given up, but Richard decided to turn his biggest disappointment into a new beginning. During his recovery, he discovered mountaineering and realised that the same qualities that made him a good rugby player — strength, determination and the ability to keep going when things get hard — would make him a great explorer.

Richard set himself an extraordinary goal: the 737 Challenge. He would climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and trek to both poles — all within seven months. In 2011, he succeeded, climbing mountains like Everest and Kilimanjaro, then skiing through freezing temperatures to reach the poles. He became the first person ever to complete this challenge in such a short time, raising thousands of pounds for charity along the way.

Since then, he’s taken on more challenges, including being the first Welshman to ski solo to the South Pole. Richard’s story shows that our biggest setbacks can become great opportunities. Resilience — the ability to bounce back from disappointment — is one of the most powerful qualities we can develop. His mental toughness and refusal to quit prove that when we face challenges with determination, we can achieve amazing things.

Photo: National Assembly for Wales / Cynulliad Cymru profile, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons