Ueli Steck is a Swiss mountaineer, born October 4, 1976 in Langnau im Emmental (Switzerland) and died April 30, 2017 in Nepal. Nicknamed the "Swiss Machine", it is known for its solo ascents and speed records.

As a child, Ueli Steck played ice hockey. At 12, he discovered rock climbing and joined the Swiss Alpine Club. At the age of 18, he climbed the north face of the Eiger and the Bonatti pillar in the Mont-Blanc massif.