When we think of elite mountaineers, the people that come to mind tend to be Caucasian white men. However without Nepal‘s ethnic Sherpas‘ assistance, their record-breaking achievements would not be possible. Sadly, Sherpas‘ contributions to this sport remain largely unseen and unrecognized . Naturally they also rarely receive the lucrative endorsement that foreign mountaineers are able to garner. One young Sherpas has made up his mind to change the narrative and status quo. In October this year Nima Rinji became the world’s youngest person to scale the fourteen highest peaks on the planet. All fourteen are 8000 meters above sea level. He’s only 18. He beats the previous record holder by a mile. The holder before is also a Sherpa, who didn’t summit all fourteen peaks until he was almost 30. Nima comes from a family of mountaineers. In fact, his family runs one of the largest mountaineering expedition companies in Nepal. His father became the youngest person to summit Mt Everest without using any oxygen support. His uncles were the first pair of brothers to scale all fourteen highest peaks. Despite all the prestige, many Sherpas want their offspring to shun the career of mountaineering because Sherpas are often viewed as guides rather than athletes. They need to fix ropes, carry food and supplies, and pave the way for their foreign clients to fulfill their dreams and break their records. Even though they shoulder all the responsibilities and face higher risks of mortality, their foreign clients receive more recognition and financial endorsement. Outdoor wear and gear companies like North Face and Patagonia don’t pay a Sherpas to endorse their products. Nima Rinji wants to change that by positioning himself as an athlete rather than a guide. He wants to show his community that mountaineering can be a prestigious job, instead of just a pathway out of poverty.