A female alpinist has made history after becoming the first Polish woman to climb all of the world’s mountains that are over 8,000 meters high.
Warsaw-born Dorota Rasińska-Samoćko was crowned ‘mountain queen’ after reaching the top of the 8,027-meter Shishapangma mountain on Wednesday, the last of the 14 eight-thousanders in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges in Asia.
Starting the Double Crown project (conquering the Crown of the Himalayas and Karakorum) in May 2021, Rasińska-Samoćko has devoted the last three years to achieving her dream.
In 2022, she earned the nickname ‘Speedy Lady’ from Nepalese Sherpas after setting a new world speed record for reaching the peaks of seven of the eight-thousanders in less than two months.
In 2023, she reached the pinnacles of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu (for the second time), and Cho Oyu, and even found time to pop over the U.S where she climbed its highest mountain, the 6,190 meter Denali in Alaska.
Following her final peak, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Poland, Martyna Wojciechowska, herself a former Seven Summit champ, was quick to send congratulations, adding on Instagram: “To date, only 3 people from Poland have climbed all eight-thousanders: Jerzy Kukuczka, Krzysztof Wielicki and Piotr Pustelnik. The first woman to do so was Edurne Pasaban from the Basque Country (in 2010).”
In an interview for the Polish private broadcaster RMF FM, Rasińska-Samoćko shared what she believes is the secret of her success.
“Women have a more romantic approach to mountains [than men] and more respect for mountains.
“At the same time, women also think about the corporeality of mountains. We have to be well-organized, well-trained, and mentally strong,” she said.
Starting the Double Crown project (conquering the Crown of the Himalayas and Karakorum) in May 2021, Rasińska-Samoćko has devoted the last three years to achieving her dream.
In 2022, she earned the nickname ‘Speedy Lady’ from Nepalese Sherpas after setting a new world speed record for reaching the peaks of seven of the eight-thousanders in less than two months.
In 2023, she reached the pinnacles of Dhaulagiri, Manaslu (for the second time), and Cho Oyu, and even found time to pop over the U.S where she climbed its highest mountain, the 6,190 meter Denali in Alaska.
Following her final peak, editor-in-chief of National Geographic Poland, Martyna Wojciechowska, herself a former Seven Summit champ, was quick to send congratulations, adding on Instagram: “To date, only 3 people from Poland have climbed all eight-thousanders: Jerzy Kukuczka, Krzysztof Wielicki and Piotr Pustelnik. The first woman to do so was Edurne Pasaban from the Basque Country (in 2010).”
In an interview for the Polish private broadcaster RMF FM, Rasińska-Samoćko shared what she believes is the secret of her success.
“Women have a more romantic approach to mountains [than men] and more respect for mountains.
“At the same time, women also think about the corporeality of mountains. We have to be well-organized, well-trained, and mentally strong,” she said.
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