Youngest to climb 7 summits: Jordan Romero sets world record (Video)
BIG BEAR, CA, USA -- Jordan Romero, a 15-year-old American, reached the top of Mt Vinson Massif in Antarctica, after successful climbs of Kosciuszko (Australia), Elbrus (Europe), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), and Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania) - setting the new world record for the youngest person to successfully climb to the summit of the seven tallest mountains on Earth's seven continents, according to World Record Academy (www.worldrecordacademy.com). Photo: Jordon Romero has become the youngest person to climb the highest peaks on each of the seven continents. (enlarge photo)
Romero beat the world record held by Britain's George Atkinson, who in May completed the seven ascents at the age of 16.
The Guinness world record for the Oldest female to climb the seven summit was set by Caroline (Kay) LeClaire (USA), who completed her last Seven Summit climb by ascending Mount Everest aged 60 years and 77 days.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the Fastest seven summit ascent (female), set by Joanne Gambi (UK), who climbed the highest peak on each continent in 799 days.
On Christmas Eve, Jordan, along with father Paul and stepmother Karen, reached the top of the 16,050-foot Mt. Vinson in Antarctica, the last of the mountains on his list.
Weather conditions, as you would expect, were challenging, with high winds and sub-zero temperatures dogging them all the way.
But int he end, they topped out at about 1 PM local time. They then safely descended back down the mountain and skied back to Base Camp, where they enjoyed Christmas dinner.
Jordan first dreamed of climbing the Seven Summits after seeing a mural on the iconic peaks in his grade school. He was just ten years old at the time.
Romero, from Big Bear Lake, California, has been hooked on climbing from an early age. At 10, he become the youngest person to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak at 5895 metres.
Later that year, he would bag his first summit, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa. He would follow that up with successful climbs of Kosciuszko (Australia), Elbrus (Europe), Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), and Carstensz Pyramid (Oceania).
But it was his successful summit of Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain on the planet, that grabbed headlines around the globe.
At the time, Jordan was just 13 years old, and his bold expedition sparked debate in the mountaineering community over how young is too young to climb the world's biggest mountains.
