Nima Rinji Sherpa is an 18-year-old Sherpa climber who has come back to Nepal after achieving the record for being the youngest climber. He is now the youngest to successfully climb all 14 of the world’s highest peaks, each over 8,000 meters. His most recent accomplishment was reaching the 8,027-meter, about the 26,335-foot summit of Mount Shishapangma in China. This was on October 9, 2024, further solidifying his historical place.
His Family Legacy and Breaking Stereotypes
Nima Rinji comes from a family of record-breaking mountain climbers. They currently manage Seven Summit Treks, Nepal’s largest tour company. However, the young climber wants to change how people view the Sherpas. According to BBC, he said it in his Instagram post after his historic climb. “This is a tribute to every Sherpa who has dared to dream a life beyond the traditional set for them,” however, when he reached the top of Mount Shishapangma, Nima Rinji was mainly aiming to fight the stereotype that Sherpas are only there to help foreign climbers.
Nima’s post also added, “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.”
Sherpas have always been important for mountain climbers in the Himalayas. They guide climbers and carry their heavy bags. However, despite having great climbing skills, they don’t get the same recognition or pay as Western climbers. Nima Rinji started climbing at 16 and has now achieved the incredible feat of climbing all the highest peaks in just 740 days. Furthermore, he first started his journey right after finishing 10th grade. Rinji started by climbing Nepal’s Manaslu, the world’s eighth-highest peak, in September 2022.
A Great Climbing Career
Nima Rinji has broken climbing records throughout his career. He is the youngest climber to summit all the 8,000-meter peaks and has also set records for climbing other famous mountains. Furthermore, he holds the record for being the youngest to summit G1 and G2 in the Himalayas and Nanga Parbat in Kashmir. It didn’t end there; he climbed Mount Everest and Lhotse within 10 hours. Accompanied by his trusted climbing partner, Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, Nima Rinji has significantly impacted the mountaineering world.
Furthermore, when Nima Rinji got to Nepal, he was warmly welcomed at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Nepal’s Tourism Minister, Badri Prasad Pandey, and fellow Sherpas and members of the climbing community welcomed him. They had with them flowers and scarves in celebration of his record-breaking records.
