Kathmandu , Nepal ( CNN ) -- An 80-year-old Japanese man on Thursday became the oldest person to reach the top of Mt . Everest , officials said . Yuichiro Miura reached the top of Everest Thursday morning with his physician son Gota , mountaineering official Gyanendra Shrestha said from the base of Everest . Miura 's achievement eclipses that of a Nepali man who climbed Everest at age 76 in 2008 . The oldest woman to climb Everest is also a Japanese . She was 73 when she reached the top last year . Miura broke his hip in an accident two years ago , and he underwent heart surgery in January . `` I am still healthy and strong . I think I have a good chance to reach the summit of Everest , '' he said via phone earlier this month . To prepare , Miura walked three times a week with loads of 25 to 30 kilograms ( 55 to 66 lbs ) on his back . He reached the top of the 8,848-meter ( 29,035-foot ) peak twice before : in 2003 at age 70 , and in 2008 at age 75 . `` I have a dream to climb Everest at this age , '' he said . `` If you have a dream , never give up . Dreams come true . '' This year marks the 60th anniversary of the first expedition to reach the summit of Everest : Sir Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay made it to the top of the mountain on May 29 , 1953 . Earlier this month , a 27-year-old graphic designer has made history by becoming the first Saudi woman to conquer the mount .
His record is that of a man who was 76 when he reached the summit . The oldest person to climb Everest is also a Japanese . Miura broke his ribs and underwent heart surgery .