The list of “First in the World” captures important landmarks in human achievement spread across realms of adventure, sports and discoveries. All these pioneering moments marked the boldest endeavors by individuals and teams who dared to push forward the frontiers of exploration, competition, and knowledge. From the very first explorer to chart the unknown territory, all the way to the latest athlete who broke the record, from the scientist making that discovery to a whole new realm of knowledge this collection speaks of the incredible human spirit of curiosity and determination. Every first is a leap forward in building history and challenging future generations to dream bigger than any who had thought it possible.
Table of Contents
Adventures
| S.No. | Achievement | Person/Group | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First person to climb Mount Everest | Sir Edmund Hillary | 1953 |
| 2 | First flight by powered aircraft | Wright Brothers | 1903 |
| 3 | First man in space | Yuri Gagarin | 1961 |
| 4 | First to circumnavigate the globe | Ferdinand Magellan | 1522 |
| 5 | First person to reach the South Pole | Roald Amundsen | 1911 |
| 6 | First person on the moon | Neil Armstrong | 1969 |
| 7 | First to sail solo around the world | Joshua Slocum | 1895 |
| 8 | First ascent of K2 | Lino Lacedelli & Achille Compagnoni | 1954 |
| 9 | First successful organ transplant | Kidney (N/A) | 1954 |
| 10 | First to explore the Amazon River | Francisco de Orellana | 1542 |
| 11 | First woman to reach the North Pole | Ann Bancroft | 1986 |
| 12 | First to ski to the South Pole | Børge Ousland | 1994 |
| 13 | First to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro | Hans Meyer | 1889 |
| 14 | First to dive to the bottom of the ocean | Don Walsh & Jacques Piccard | 1960 |
| 15 | First to fly around the world solo | Wiley Post | 1933 |
| 16 | First woman to fly solo across the Atlantic | Amelia Earhart | 1932 |
| 17 | First to cross Antarctica on foot | Sir Ernest Shackleton | 1914-1917 |
| 18 | First to explore the depths of the ocean with a submersible | Jacques Cousteau | 1954 |
| 19 | First to climb all 14 eight-thousanders | Reinhold Messner | 1986 |
| 20 | First to walk to both poles | Sir Ranulph Fiennes | 1990 |
Sports
| S.No. | Achievement | Person/Group | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Olympic Games | N/A (Ancient Greece) | 776 BC |
| 2 | First football World Cup | N/A | 1930 |
| 3 | First Olympic gold medal for India | Field Hockey Team | 1928 |
| 4 | First Cricket World Cup winner | West Indies | 1975 |
| 5 | First woman to win a Nobel Prize | Marie Curie | 1903 |
| 6 | First female Olympic gold medalist | Hélène de Pourtalès | 1900 |
| 7 | First to win back-to-back World Cups | Brazil | 1958 & 1962 |
| 8 | First person to achieve a hat-trick in World Cup football | Geoff Hurst | 1966 |
| 9 | First Rugby World Cup winner | New Zealand | 1987 |
| 10 | First woman to swim across the English Channel | Gertrude Ederle | 1926 |
| 11 | First to win a Grand Slam tennis title | Maureen Connolly | 1951 |
| 12 | First team to win the Cricket World Cup | West Indies | 1975 |
| 13 | First woman to referee a men’s professional match | Michelle Pires | 2019 |
| 14 | First person to run a marathon under 2 hours | Eliud Kipchoge | 2019 |
| 15 | First country to host the Winter Olympics | Chamonix, France | 1924 |
| 16 | First person to score a goal in the FIFA World Cup | Franz Pfister | 1930 |
| 17 | First to achieve a 100 in a One Day International | Dennis Amiss | 2015 |
| 18 | First woman to compete in the Olympics | Hélène de Pourtalès | 1900 |
| 19 | First team to win the UEFA Champions League | Celtic FC | 1967 |
| 20 | First person to win the FIFA Ballon d’Or | Stanley Matthews | 1956 |
Discoveries
| S.No. | Achievement | Person/Group | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First successful heart transplant | Dr. Christiaan Barnard | 1967 |
| 2 | First vaccine developed | Edward Jenner (Smallpox) | 1796 |
| 3 | First artificial satellite | Sputnik 1 | 1957 |
| 4 | First to discover penicillin | Alexander Fleming | 1928 |
| 5 | First to discover DNA structure | Watson and Crick | 1953 |
| 6 | First to discover gravity | Isaac Newton | 1687 |
| 7 | First to map the human genome | International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium | 2003 |
| 8 | First to synthesize urea | Friedrich Wöhler | 1828 |
| 9 | First to develop the theory of relativity | Albert Einstein | 1905 |
| 10 | First to discover radium | Marie Curie | 1898 |
| 11 | First to demonstrate the heliocentric theory | Nicolaus Copernicus | 1543 |
| 12 | First to discover insulin | Frederick Banting | 1921 |
| 13 | First to map the human brain | Santiago Ramón y Cajal | 1906 |
| 14 | First to discover electromagnetic waves | James Clerk Maxwell | 1865 |
| 15 | First to invent the telephone | Alexander Graham Bell | 1876 |
| 16 | First person to break the sound barrier | Chuck Yeager | 1947 |
| 17 | First to develop the concept of the periodic table | Dmitri Mendeleev | 1869 |
| 18 | First to discover the neutron | James Chadwick | 1932 |
| 19 | First person to demonstrate the principles of aviation | Sir George Cayley | 1799 |
| 20 | First to describe the structure of viruses | W.M. Stanley | 1935 |
This is the list of “First in the World” is very handy for all aspirants who are preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, JKSSB and other state-level exams. For general knowledge, these pioneering works across adventure, sports and discoveries are more commonly found. Therefore, such knowledge has become very helpful for all aspirants to excel in such competitive exams. Knowing all these key milestones really enriches not only preparation for the exams but also expands one’s vision on human progress and achievements. This is an exhaustive list that can in fact be very helpful for people trying to enhance their competitiveness.
Mukal Katha is a dedicated and highly experienced professional teacher specializing in competitive exam preparation. With a deep expertise in current affairs and notes analysis, he has been guiding aspirants with his practical approach and insightful teaching methods. Known for simplifying complex topics and providing crisp, exam-focused content, Mukal Katha ensures that students are well-prepared to tackle any challenge in their exams. His commitment to excellence and passion for teaching make him a trusted mentor for those aiming to achieve their goals.
