An 18-year-old Nepali climber, Nima Rinji Sherpa, made history on Wednesday by becoming the youngest person to summit all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks. His final ascent of Tibet’s 8,027-meter-high Shisha Pangma marked the completion of his remarkable achievement.
Nima, who hails from a family of renowned mountaineers, broke the previous record held by fellow Nepali climber Mingma Gyabu ‘David’ Sherpa, who achieved the feat at 30. Nima started his high-altitude climbing journey at 16, scaling Mount Manaslu in 2022, and completed his 13th ascent on Kanchenjunga earlier this year.
“This summit is not just the culmination of my personal journey, but a tribute to every Sherpa who has ever dared to dream beyond the traditional boundaries set for us,” Nima said, highlighting the importance of his achievement for the Sherpa community.
The young climber’s success has been celebrated as a proud moment for Nepal, with Nima Nuru Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, stating that Nima’s achievement has broken stereotypes and proved that “nothing is impossible with strong determination.”
Nepali climbers, particularly from the Sherpa ethnic group, are considered the backbone of Himalayan mountaineering. They play key roles in supporting foreign expeditions by carrying gear, setting up camps, and fixing ropes. Nima’s record emphasizes their growing recognition as accomplished mountaineers in their own right.
