Ken Mitchell has lived a hard-hitting life.

He was a linebacker with Atlanta Falcons, a catcher in the California Angels organization, played basketball in college and raced motorcycles.

After his pro career ended, he got involved in competitive triathlons and mountain climbing.

But after a lifetime of athletics, he had both knees replaced. He thought his climbing days were over but his nine kids convinced him otherwise.

He talked to Growing Bolder about his unbelievable climb up Mount Everest.

Click here to listen to Ken's other appearance on the Growing Bolder Radio Show.

Want to meet other Mount Everest explorers? Check out:

-- Stacy Allison lived to tell the tale of becoming the first American woman to reach the summit of the world's highest mountain but it took her a couple tries to achieve her goal. Click here to find out why Stacy believes mountain climbing is a perfect metaphor for life's challenges.

-- Sean Swarner is a two-time cancer survivor with only one functioning lung. Fifteen years after doctors gave him two weeks to live, he reached the top of Mount Everest. Click here to listen to our conversation.

-- Jeanne Stawiecki is a former two-pack-a-day smoker who gave up cigarettes to conquer the world. In 2007, she completed marathons on all seven continents and reached the summit of Mount Everest at the age of 57. Now she's listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest woman to climb the world's tallest Seven Summits. Click here to find out why she wanted to conquer such a lofty goal.

-- Just five years ago, Don Healy was a 60-year-old couch potato who'd never exercised in his life. Now, he has reached the top of the world -- with an artificial hip. Click here to find out why he never gave up on his dream to look down from the top of the world.

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