India-West News Desk

NEW DELHI – A 18-year-old Nepali mountaineer, Nima Rinji Sherpa, set a new world record on October 6, becoming the youngest person to conquer all 14 of the world’s 8,000-meter peaks. His historic achievement was completed with a successful summit of Tibet’s 8,027-meter-high Shisha Pangma.

Sherpa’s father, Tashi Sherpa, confirmed the news, saying, “He reached the summit this morning. He had trained well, and I was confident he would do it.”

Summiting all 14 “eight-thousanders” is considered one of the most prestigious goals in mountaineering.

Nima Rinji Sherpa expressed his deep connection to the mountains and the Sherpa community. “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,” he said in a statement. “Mountaineering is more than labor; it is a testament to our strength, resilience, and passion.”

Born into a family of elite mountaineers, Sherpa has been scaling peaks from an early age. His family also runs Nepal’s largest mountaineering expedition company, continuing a proud legacy in the Himalayan climbing community.

Before Sherpa’s ascent, the record was held by another Nepali climber, Mingma Gyabu ‘David’ Sherpa, who achieved the feat at age 30 in 2019.

Nima Rinji Sherpa’s journey into high-altitude climbing began at the age of 16, when he summited Mount Manaslu in August 2022. By June 2024, he had completed 13 peaks, including Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest mountain.

Sherpas from Everest’s surrounding valleys have historically been working behind the scenes as support for foreign climbers but in recent years, Nepali climbers have been stepping into the spotlight, with historic feats of their own.