Amputee Returns From Record-Breaking Climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro

ATLANTA - The 25-year-old quadruple amputee who made a record breaking climb to the top of Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro returned to Atlanta on Thursday.

Family and friends honored Maynard at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

Maynard, who was born without full limbs, became the first-ever with his disability to climb the African mountain.

The12,000-foot climb took 10 days to complete.

“It was the mileage that was the hardest part,” Maynard said.

The tough terrain took its toll on Maynard.

“My arms were starting to swell pretty bad, so I was concerned that…if we made it, it was going to be pretty painful,” said Maynard.

Maynard said he was “overcome with emotion” when it reached the mountain’s summit.

“We didn’t take any shortcuts or anything. We didn’t make any excuses…Kyle didn’t everything on his own,” said Dan Adams of Mission Kilimanjaro.

Maynard was a successful high school wrestler on one of the best teams in the southeast and a noted author. He prepared for the climb at Stone Mountain.

Maynard’s team, which included recently-disabled veterans, raised thousands of dollars for African school children.

“My personal goal was to be able to help share this with people to help them reach their own personal summit in their lives,” said Maynard. “It’s about people taking this and applying it to something in their own lives.”

READ MORE: Mission Kilimanjaro