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    'It's not about ego', says speed climber who tamed world's 14 highest peaks

    Nirmal Purja says hardest part of his record-breaking feat was solving a diplomatic impasse with China
    by Peter Beaumont Nov 01, 2019 3 minutes
    Nirmal ‘Nims’ Purja stands at the summit of Gasherbrum II on 29 October, completing his record-breaking speed-climbing feat. Photograph: Nirmal 'Nims' Purja - Bremont Pr/AFP via Getty Images

    Nirmal “Nims” Purja’s record-breaking ascent of the world’s 14 highest mountains in just over six months drew plaudits and astonishment at his physical feat. But for the man himself, the climbing was “the easy part”.

    Speaking to the Guardian from the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, Nims said the real challenges were the logistics and fundraising.

    Perhaps most difficult of all was the diplomacy required to persuade the Chinese authorities to open the last mountain on his list, Shishapangma, which was closed to climbers for a

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