Nima Rinji Sherpa’s accomplishment is part of his larger vision for his initiative to reshape global perceptions of Sherpas - Kathmandu Post/ANN
KATHMANDU: Eighteen-year-old Nima Rinji Sherpa reached the summit of Mount Shishapangma in Tibet, China, on Wednesday (Oct 9) morning, thus becoming the youngest person in the world to reach the summits of all 14 of the planet’s 8,000m peaks.
“Nima reached the summit at 6.05am (local time in Tibet),” said Bikram Karki, Nima’s spokesman.
With this feat, Nima has overtaken his uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, for the world record.
Until Oct 8, Mingma Gyabu held the record for being the youngest to climb all 14 peaks above 8,000m, which he achieved in 2019 at the age of 30.
“Congratulations, Nima! Your journey continues to inspire us all,” Nima’s father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, managing director of Seven Summit Treks, Nepal’s largest expedition company, wrote on his Facebook page.
Nima’s father holds the record for climbing Everest, the world’s highest peak, without bottled oxygen at the age of 19, becoming the youngest climber to do so.
Nima started climbing at 16 and debuted on Sept 30, 2022, with Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163m, after passing his secondary school-leaving Class 10 examination.
Over the past two years, he has broken multiple world records and become the youngest to summit several of the formidable mountains.
In 2023, at the age of 17, he accomplished a remarkable feat by climbing nine peaks above 8,000m in just a single year.
His final conquest was Mount Shishapangma in China. “He did that on Wednesday,” said Mr Karki. “This marks the completion of his extraordinary journey.”
Nima’s historic accomplishment is part of his larger vision for the “SherpaPower” initiative, which aims to reshape the global perception of Sherpas.
In Nima’s words, the initiative seeks to show that “Sherpas are not just mountain guides but elite athletes and adventurers capable of creating unique paths on the world stage”.
“Today, as I stand atop my 14th 8,000m peak, I dedicate this world record to my parents, especially my father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, and my mother, Leema Sherpa, and my project, #SherpaPower,” Nima said in a statement issued on Oct 9 following his historic feat.
“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 labour; it is a testament to our strength, resilience and passion.
“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.”
On Oct 16, 1986, Italian Reinhold Messner became the first to climb all 14 of the 8,000m peaks without using supplementary oxygen. - Kathmandu Post/ANN
