Kathmandu, Oct 9 (EFE).- Eighteen-year-old Nima Rinji Sherpa reached the summit of Mt Shishapangma in Tibet, China, on Wednesday morning, making him the youngest person in the world to summit all 14 of the planet’s 8,000-meter peaks.
“Nima reached the summit at 6.05 am (local time in Tibet),” Bikram Karki, Nima’s spokesperson, told EFE.
Nima has snatched the world record from his uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, who until Tuesday held the record of the youngest person to climb all 14 peaks, achieved in 2019 at the age of 30.
Nima started climbing at 16 and debuted on Sep. 30, 2022, with Mt Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 meters, after passing his class 10 examination.
“He has broken multiple world records over two years, becoming the youngest to summit several of these formidable mountains. His final conquest was Shishapangma in China, marking the completion of this extraordinary journey,” said Karki.
Nima’s historic accomplishment is part of his larger vision for the “SherpaPower” initiative, which aims to reshape the global perception of Sherpas.
“This summit is not just the culmination of my journey but a tribute to every Sherpa who has dared to dream beyond the traditional boundaries set for us. Mountaineering is more than labor; it is a testament to our strength, resilience, and passion,” Nima said in a statement issued after his historic feat.
“Through #SherpaPower, I want to show the younger generation of Sherpas that they can rise above the stereotype of being only support climbers and embrace their potential as top-tier athletes, adventurers, and creators. We are not just guides; we are trailblazers. Let this be a call to every Sherpa to see the dignity in our work, the power in our heritage, and the limitless possibilities in our future,” he said.
On Oct. 16, 1986, Italian Reinhold Messner became the first to climb all 14 eight-thousanders without using supplementary oxygen.
On May 17, 2010, Spanish climber Edurne Pasaban became the first woman to summit all 14 eight-thousanders after South Korean Oh Eun-sun’s claim was disputed. EFE
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