Purnima Shrestha, a Nepali photojournalist and mountaineer, has carved her name in history with extraordinary feats in 2024.
Her incredible achievements earned her a spot on CNN’s prestigious list of extreme athletes for the year in a feature titled “A whole different wiring system: the extreme athletes who pushed limits in 2024.”
CNN’s recognition of extreme athletes
CNN’s recognition of extreme athletes has evolved over the years, with the latest list being released on December 29, 2024. This list highlights remarkable achievements in endurance sports and features athletes who have pushed the boundaries of human capability.
Other notable athletes included in CNN’s 2024 list are:
- Russ Cook, who ran the entire length of Africa, completing over 10,000 miles.
- Jasmin Paris, the first woman to finish the notoriously difficult Barkley Marathons.
- Lachlan Morton, who set a record for cycling around Australia in just under 31 days.
- Kilian Jornet, who climbed all 82 Alpine peaks in record time (19 days).
- Sebastian Steudtner, known for surfing massive waves deemed “unsurfable.”
- Biniam Girmay, a prominent Black African cyclist making significant strides in competitive cycling
Source: Illustration by Leah Abucayan/CNN/Getty
The recognition comes after Purnima broke a world record by summiting Mount Everest three times within just 13 days.
She reached the peak of the world’s tallest mountain on May 12, May 19, and May 25 a feat that has stunned the mountaineering community.
But this isn’t her first groundbreaking achievement. In 2021, Purnima became the first Nepali woman to summit Mount Dhaulagiri, the world’s seventh-highest mountain.
Photo: Purnima Shrestha/ Facebook
Purnima has climbed several other peaks over 8,000 meters, including Manaslu, Annapurna I, Kanchenjunga, Lhotse, Makalu, and K2. She is regarded as Nepal’s fastest woman to complete seven 8K peaks.
Purnima was born in Arughat, Gorkha, Nepal. Initially working as a photojournalist, she developed a passion for mountaineering after visiting Everest Base Camp in 2017 for an assignment covering the Everest Marathon. Despite having no prior experience in climbing, she started on her mountaineering career shortly thereafter
2024 has been nothing short of historic for Purnima. Her inclusion in CNN’s list highlights not only her personal strength and grit but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring climbers, particularly women, to push boundaries in sports and adventure.
As a photojournalist and mountaineer, Purnima’s journey exemplifies the power of passion and determination. Her story is a reminder that no summit is too high when the will to succeed is strong.
