A young mountaineer breaks the record for the youngest person to conquer the world’s 14 highest peaks

A Sherpa teenager who became the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks returned home to Nepal on Monday to a hero’s welcome.

Nima Rinji Sherpa, 18, reached the 8,027-meter summit of Mount Shishapangma in China last week, completing her mission to climb the world’s peaks over 8,000 meters high. He broke the previous record by another Sherpa, who was 30 years old at the time.

Nepal’s Tourism Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, along with members of the climbing community, fellow Sherpas and supporters, lined up outside Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to present flowers and scarves to Nima Rinji.

“I am very happy and I want to thank everyone very much. It was a difficult task but in the end I was able to succeed,” Nima Rinji told the media.

Sherpas are emerging from the shadow of Western climbers

He comes from a well-known Sherpa mountain climbing family. His father and two uncles run Seven Summits Treks in Nepal, which is now a leading company serving customers in Nepal, China and Pakistan.

Renowned for their skills on the world’s highest peaks, the Sherpas were once provided as support staff but now step out of the shadows of their Western counterparts. Several mountain climbing records have been achieved by Sherpa climbers.

After his latest and final ascent on Wednesday, Nima Rinji wrote on his Instagram account that “it was a tribute to every Sherpa who ever dared to dream beyond the traditional limits set for them.”

“Mountain climbing is more than labor; it is a testament to our strength, resilience and love,” he wrote, adding that he wants to show that the new generation of Sherpas can rise above the belief that they are only supporting climbers and embrace their power.

“We are not just guides; we are leaders. Let this be a call to all Sherpas to see the dignity in our work, the power of our legacy, and the limitless possibilities of our future,” he said.