Nima Rinji Sherpa Biography: 14 Peaks and World Record

Nima Rinji Sherpa is a Nepalese mountaineer who completed the ascent of all 14 mountains above 8,000 metres on October 9, 2024, when he reached the summit of Shishapangma in Tibet. He was 18 years old at the time. This achievement made him the youngest person in the world to climb all 14 eight-thousanders. His record is documented by Guinness World Records and international news organisations.

Sherpa began his journey to climb the world's eight-thousanders with Manaslu in 2022. He subsequently climbed peaks above 8,000 metres in Nepal, Pakistan, and the Tibet region of China. However, his public profile extends beyond summit counts and climbing records. He has advocated for Sherpa climbers to be recognised as athletes in their own right and has participated in public campaigns addressing climate change.

Nima Rinji Sherpa: Quick Facts

His date of birth is recorded as April 18, 2006, in multiple Guinness World Records entries. Information about his family's connection to the Makalu region and his upbringing in Kathmandu comes from contemporary journalism and detailed biographical reporting.

Early Life, Birth, and Family Background

Nima Rinji Sherpa was born in the Makalu area of Sankhuwasabha district in Nepal. His family has longstanding connections to mountaineering and Himalayan tourism. According to available reporting, he spent much of his childhood in Kathmandu. His entry into mountaineering was also connected to his family's business, access to resources, and opportunities to learn from experienced climbers.

His father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, is a mountaineer and mountaineering entrepreneur. Guinness World Records reporting and other accounts describe Tashi Lakpa's history of climbing Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen at a young age.

Other family members have also been active in mountaineering. His uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, completed all 14 eight-thousanders in 2019 at the age of 30, establishing a record for the youngest person to achieve the feat. Nima broke that record in 2024.

Although his family background gave him early exposure to mountaineering, it would be inaccurate to assume that he had always intended to become a climber.

In an interview with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), he said he had wanted to become a football player during childhood and that his father had supported that ambition as well.

An interview with National Geographic also discussed his interest in photography and storytelling, along with trekking experiences with his father, as influences connected to his eventual involvement in mountaineering.

Interviews with Nima and his father indicate that his interests gradually shifted from football and photography towards climbing.

Education and Entry into Mountaineering

Nima Rinji Sherpa attended school in Kathmandu. According to a 2024 report in The Kathmandu Post, he climbed Manaslu after passing his Grade 10 examinations.

Available public sources do not clearly identify the school he attended or his subsequent formal educational qualifications.

In his interview with UNDP, he explained that he had also focused on education and training while preparing for mountaineering. However, there are insufficient public records to attribute a specific mountaineering training certificate or higher education qualification to him.

The year 2022 marked an important beginning in his climbing career.

According to Guinness World Records, he summited Manaslu, which stands at 8,163 metres, on September 30, 2022. He was 16 years old at the time.

The Himalayan Database also records his 2022 Manaslu expedition as a successful summit ascent.

During the autumn season of the same year, he also climbed Ama Dablam, a mountain below 8,000 metres, according to the Himalayan Database. Ama Dablam is not included among the world's 14 eight-thousanders.

What Are the World's 14 Eight-Thousanders?

The term 14 eight-thousanders refers to the 14 recognised main mountain summits in the world that rise above 8,000 metres above sea level.

These mountains are located in Asia's Himalayan and Karakoram mountain systems. Mount Everest is the highest, while Shishapangma is the lowest of the 14 peaks.

Climbing these mountains does not involve identical conditions. Weather, terrain, altitude, accessibility, climbing style, and the contribution of support teams vary between expeditions.

Successfully reaching one summit does not automatically eliminate the difficulties or risks associated with another.

For this reason, understanding an expedition involving all 14 peaks requires attention not only to the number of summits completed but also to the climbing chronology, supporting team members, and available expedition records.

The records for the youngest person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders and the fastest person to climb all 14 eight-thousanders are separate categories.

Nima's principal world record belongs to the first category. It would be incorrect to describe him as the fastest person to complete all 14 ascents.

2023: Everest, Lhotse, and Pakistan's Five Eight-Thousanders

Nima's climbing career gained momentum in 2023.

In May, he climbed Mount Everest and Lhotse. Guinness World Records recognises him for becoming the youngest male climber to summit both Everest and Lhotse.

However, Guinness records contain a discrepancy concerning the date of his Lhotse ascent. Different Guinness entries list May 24 and May 25, 2023, while The Himalayan Times reports May 25. This difference between the records should be taken into account when examining his climbing chronology.

After completing these ascents, his expedition activities shifted towards Pakistan.

Guinness World Records lists the following successful ascents in Pakistan:

• Nanga Parbat: June 26, 2023

• Gasherbrum I: July 18, 2023

• Gasherbrum II: July 19, 2023

• Broad Peak: July 23, 2023

• K2: July 27, 2023

He also established the record as the youngest person to climb all five of Pakistan's eight-thousanders.

K2 is the second-highest mountain in the world. Nima's name also appears in Guinness World Records for being the youngest person to climb both Mount Everest and K2.

Team members who climbed alongside him and those involved in organising and supporting the expeditions also contributed to these achievements.

Later in 2023, he climbed Dhaulagiri in September and Cho Oyu in October.

He therefore completed nine of the world's eight-thousanders during 2023 alone.

At the end of that year, four mountains remained on his list: Kangchenjunga, Makalu, Annapurna I, and Shishapangma.

2024: The Final Four Peaks and World Record

In 2024, Nima Rinji Sherpa completed the remaining four eight-thousanders.

He summited Annapurna I on April 12, Makalu on May 4, and Kangchenjunga on June 8. After these ascents, he had completed 13 of the 14 mountains.

According to the Himalayan Database, he did not use supplementary oxygen during his 2024 Annapurna I ascent.

However, the same database records supplementary oxygen use during some of his other expeditions, including Everest, Lhotse, Makalu, and Kangchenjunga.

It would therefore be inaccurate to claim that he climbed all 14 eight-thousanders without supplementary oxygen.

When he reached the summit of Kangchenjunga on June 8, 2024, he also established achievements associated with Guinness records for the youngest person to climb the world's three highest and five highest mountains.

Guinness World Records states that he was 18 years and 51 days old when he summited Kangchenjunga.

Completing the 14-Peak Challenge on Shishapangma

Shishapangma was the final mountain on his list.

On October 9, 2024, he reached its summit at approximately 6:05 a.m. local time. Pasang Nurbu Sherpa also reached the summit alongside him.

With this ascent, Nima completed all 14 of the world's eight-thousanders and established the world record for the youngest person to achieve the feat.

Based on the birth date of April 18, 2006, and the final summit date of October 9, 2024, recorded by Guinness World Records, he was 18 years and 174 days old when he completed the challenge.

This can also be expressed as 18 years, five months, and 21 days.

All 14 Eight-Thousanders Climbed by Nima Rinji Sherpa

The following table presents the chronological order of Nima Rinji Sherpa's 14 successful ascents. It is based on records from Guinness World Records, the Himalayan Database, and contemporary news reports published in 2024.

The table identifies the summit sequence and dates but does not provide details about each expedition's climbing style, duration, team structure, or use of supplementary oxygen.

For Lhotse, Guinness World Records lists May 24, 2023, on its Everest–Lhotse combined record page and May 25, 2023, on its record page concerning the world's five highest peaks.

Contemporary Nepalese reporting also gives May 25. This discrepancy is therefore retained in the table rather than being resolved through assumption.

The other summit dates have been compared with independent expedition records and contemporary news reports.

The Role of Supporting Climbers and Expedition Teams

Although Nima Rinji Sherpa holds the individual world record, his climbs were not solo expeditions.

Pasang Nurbu Sherpa, in particular, is frequently identified as an important climbing partner during his journey.

The Kathmandu Post, The Himalayan Times, and National Geographic are among the sources reporting that both climbers reached the final summit of Shishapangma together.

A detailed National Geographic report published in 2025 also discusses his family's mountaineering business, financial and logistical support, and the involvement of experienced guides.

These factors provide important context for understanding his climbing career.

High-altitude expeditions involve contributions from many people beyond those who eventually reach the summit. Preparation, coordination, logistics, and safety management all require collective effort.

Individual mountaineering records should therefore be understood alongside the contributions of the broader expedition team.

#SherpaPower and His Views on Sherpa Recognition

Nima Rinji Sherpa has promoted a public initiative called #SherpaPower.

Through this campaign, he has challenged the narrow perception that Sherpa people should be recognised only as assistants, guides, or load carriers for foreign mountaineers.

The term Sherpa identifies an ethnic community associated with Nepal.

Members of the Sherpa community work in mountaineering, guiding, entrepreneurship, and many other professions, particularly in Himalayan regions.

It is incorrect to assume that every Sherpa person works in the same occupation.

An October 2024 UNDP interview, his public statements reported by The Kathmandu Post, and a 2025 CBS 60 Minutes programme show that he has advocated for Sherpa mountaineers to receive independent recognition as athletes and for their contributions to climbing to be acknowledged.

While his experiences and public views are significant, they should not be treated as representing the opinions of the entire Sherpa community.

Similarly, one person's success does not establish the professional opportunities, income levels, or social circumstances of all members of that community.

World Records, Recognition, and Climbing Style

Nima Rinji Sherpa appears in several Guinness World Records categories.

His principal achievement is becoming the youngest person to complete all 14 eight-thousanders.

Other records associated with his name include achievements involving the youngest person to climb:

• Mount Everest and Lhotse

• Mount Everest and K2

• The world's five highest mountains

• Pakistan's five eight-thousanders

These records are based on different criteria.

A single mountain ascent may contribute towards more than one record.

Holding a world record does not necessarily mean that a climber has completed every category of mountaineering faster, under more difficult conditions, or with greater independence than others.

There are important distinctions between commercially supported expeditions and independent alpine-style climbing.

The style of an expedition may involve factors such as the use of guides, established routes, supporting infrastructure, and supplementary oxygen.

National Geographic has also discussed the differences between Nima's 14-peak campaign and his subsequent attempts at more independent forms of climbing.

A proper assessment of his accomplishments should recognise his verified records while also explaining the conditions under which the expeditions were completed.

Mountaineering Activities After 2024

Nima Rinji Sherpa continued pursuing other mountaineering activities after completing his 14-peak challenge.

According to a National Geographic report published in August 2025, he attempted another expedition on Manaslu during the winter of 2024–2025 alongside Italian mountaineer Simone Moro.

The expedition ended without a successful summit because of adverse weather conditions.

Since the team did not reach the summit, the expedition should not be counted as a successful ascent. However, the attempt demonstrated his interest in exploring different climbing styles after establishing his 2024 world record.

In 2026, reports also documented his participation in mountain expeditions outside Asia.

According to The Tourism Times, he was part of a team that reached the summit of Aconcagua in Argentina on January 28, 2026.

Another report stated that he summited Denali in Alaska, United States, on June 19, 2026.

His father, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, and his uncle, Pasang Phurba Sherpa, also participated in the Denali expedition.

These accounts were published based on announcements associated with the respective expeditions.

These later climbs should not be confused with his 2024 record for completing all 14 eight-thousanders. They represent separate achievements in his subsequent mountaineering career.

Climate Change Awareness and Environmental Advocacy

Beyond mountaineering, Nima Rinji Sherpa has spoken publicly about environmental changes in Himalayan regions.

In an interview published by UNDP Nepal on October 22, 2024, he discussed changes he had observed when comparing older and more recent photographs of mountains.

He noted differences in snow cover and the extent of exposed rock faces.

These observations reflect his personal experiences.

However, confirming long-term changes in glaciers or climate conditions requires systematic measurements, data collected over time, and scientific research. Personal observations should not be presented as substitutes for scientific measurements.

On April 22, 2025, UNDP Nepal announced Nima Rinji Sherpa and mountaineer Purnima Shrestha as its first two Climate Influencers.

The partnership was associated with efforts to increase public awareness of climate justice and environmental impacts.

Its purpose was to encourage public participation in discussions about climate-related issues. The designation was not a position in scientific research or government policymaking.

Education and Public Engagement

Nima has also shared his mountaineering experiences through international media.

In August 2025, National Geographic published an extensive article examining his family background, opportunities in mountaineering, and questions surrounding climbing styles.

In December 2025, the American television programme 60 Minutes featured his experiences in a report about the contributions of Sherpa people to mountaineering.

In July 2026, The Tourism Times reported that he had been announced as one of the founding board members of Christel House Nepal.

The report also discussed plans to establish a school through the organisation.

However, an announcement of board membership should not be treated as evidence that the planned school had already begun operating.

Although his public activities indicate an interest in education and climate-related issues alongside mountaineering, future plans should not be described as completed accomplishments.

Understanding the Risks and Achievements of Mountaineering

Climbing mountains above 8,000 metres involves serious natural hazards, including low oxygen levels, adverse weather, and other high-altitude risks.

Describing such expeditions solely as achievements of courage or determination can overlook the importance of professional experience, team support, available resources, and risk management.

In a 2025 interview with CBS, Nima discussed the importance of caution alongside confidence in the mountains.

National Geographic's reporting similarly presents his family support, experienced guides, and difficult climbing conditions as important parts of his story.

His successful completion of all 14 eight-thousanders should not be presented merely as an inspirational story or in a way that minimises the risks involved.

His records demonstrate a notable sporting achievement at a young age. They do not establish that similarly dangerous activities would be appropriate or safe for other people of the same age.

Nima Rinji Sherpa's Place in Mountaineering History

Nima Rinji Sherpa's principal historical significance lies in his verified record as the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world's eight-thousanders.

His journey began with Manaslu in 2022 and concluded with Shishapangma in 2024.

His career has also drawn attention to a broader issue: how the identities of Nepalese Sherpa mountaineers, their individual sporting achievements, and the contributions of expedition teams are represented in records and news reporting.

His #SherpaPower campaign is connected to this public discussion.

His family's resources and access to the professional mountaineering industry also differed from those available to many other climbers.

This background is a relevant part of his life story. Presenting his success solely as the result of individual effort would leave out important social and professional circumstances surrounding his achievements.

Sources published through October 2026 document his 14-peak world record, several subsequent expeditions, and public engagement in climate awareness and education.

The outcomes of his future plans can be established only through subsequent verified records.

References

1. Guinness World Records. Youngest person to climb the first three 8,000ers. Records relating to his date of birth, Kangchenjunga, and the 14 eight-thousanders.

2. Guinness World Records. Youngest person to climb the first five 8,000ers. Records concerning the world's five highest mountains and summit dates.

3. Guinness World Records. Youngest person to climb the Pakistan Five. Primary record concerning Pakistan's five eight-thousanders.

4. Guinness World Records. Youngest person to climb Everest and Lhotse (male). Record of the Everest–Lhotse ascents, including a Lhotse date that differs from another Guinness entry.

5. Sangam Prasain. Nima Rinji world's youngest to summit all 8,000m peaks. The Kathmandu Post, October 9, 2024.

6. Himalayan Database. Nima Rinji Sherpa (born 2006): Expedition records. Recorded Himalayan expeditions and supplementary oxygen use.

7. United Nations Development Programme Nepal. Interview with Nima Rinji Sherpa. October 22, 2024.

8. United Nations Development Programme Nepal. Nima Rinji Sherpa and Purnima Shrestha become UNDP Nepal's first Climate Influencers. April 22, 2025.

9. Gloria Liu. Can this Sherpa change mountain climbing forever?. National Geographic, August 4, 2025.

10. CBS News. Everest's Sherpas, often with little recognition, risk their lives to help others reach the summit. December 21, 2025.

11. The Tourism Times. 14 Peaks Expedition team summits Mt Aconcagua despite harsh season. January 30, 2026.

12. The Tourism Times. Nima Rinji Sherpa summits Denali. June 22, 2026.

13. The Tourism Times. Record-holding climber Nima Rinji Sherpa joins Christel House Nepal board. July 23, 2026.

14. The Himalayan Times. Nima Rinji becomes world's youngest to scale all 14 peaks. October 9, 2024. Includes summit dates, including Lhotse, and information about the final expedition team.

15. Kantipur. 17-Year-Old Record-Holding Mountaineer (१७ वर्षीय कीर्तिमानी आरोही). June 2, 2023. Information about his birthplace in the Makalu region and early mountaineering activities.