Leanna Shuttleworth summits Everest aged 19

In May 2012, 19-year-old Leanna Shuttleworth became the youngest ever female to summit Everest, and to complete the Seven Summits. We caught up with the teenage climber before her final record-breaking push

OAG: So when did you first catch the climbing bug?

LS: When I was 14 there was a school trip to Everest base camp. It was probably the best time of my life. Even though I was the only girl in a group of 20, and I got really bad altitude sickness, I absolutely loved it.

OAG: And how did that turn into your Seven Summits and Everest record-breaking attempts?

LS: Some friends gave me a book called Together at the Top of the World by Phil and Susan Ershler about their Seven Summits trip. I thought it was a great idea, so I asked my dad and he said: “If you’re motivated enough and do all the training, take it one mountain at a time and we’ll see how you go.”

The record-breaking bit didn’t come in ’til quite a long time later, when I realised that there weren’t many young British females in the climbing community.

OAG: How have you fitted mountain climbing training in around school?

LS: It’s all had to fit into school holidays, which is difficult because obviously the mountains can only be climbed in the right season, depending on which hemisphere they’re in! I’m on a gap year now, but it’s still taken me four years to get to this point.

OAG: So how have you been preparing yourself for the final challenge?

LS: I seem to be spending my life in the gym at the moment, though it hasn’t actually been very long since we got off the mountain. We were in Antarctica over Christmas, so my fitness is already up from that. And when I’m in Dubai, where I grew up, all those high rises means that stair climbing ends up being quite a big part of training too!

OAG:Who do you normally go climbing with?

LS: My dad! My enthusiasm rubbed off a little and he decided to try it when we went to Kilimanjaro, and now he’s my regular partner.

We’re not like father and daughter on the trips, we’re like teammates. If you’re in a team where you really do depend on each other, it doesn’t really work if you have a father-daughter sort of connection; you have to be on equal footing.

OAG: Have there been any times when you’ve wanted to give up?

LS: I don’t think I’ve ever thought I can’t carry on, but there are definitely times when I’ve thought, “why am I here?”. Our Christmas day this year was spent in minus 58° in Antarctica. There were times when I just thought “I could be sitting at home eating a nice Christmas dinner and opening presents in the warmth”

OAG: How do you keep yourself motivated?

LS: I just look at the scenery and think how lucky I am. Especially when we were in Antarctica, because so few people actually go there, and it’s an amazing continent. It’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen; it’s just so pristine everywhere.

OAG: So what’s been your favourite trip?

LS: Denali was both my toughest and my favourite, and also the one I wouldn’t want to go back to now. It was a real step up from anything we’d done before. It’s a 21-day expedition and you have to carry all your stuff, which for three weeks ends up being quite a lot! But the challenge made it feel like more of an achievement.

OAG: How do you feel when you get to the summit?

LS: The summit’s very important to my dad. However, it’s actually less important to me, because for me it’s all about the whole trip. I really enjoy all the teamwork and being away in the mountains.

But the summit, yes, the views arespectacular if you’ve got good weather, but there’s a climbing motto that you’re only halfway there when you get to the top because, going down, a lot of people don’t pay as much attention, and that’s when the accidents happen.

OAG: Do you have any role models?

LS: I met Jordan Romero – who holds the record for summiting Everest aged 13 – in Antarctica. He’s one of those people you read about and think, “his dad’s pushing him do it, is that really his goal?”And it was one of those moments where you meet someone and go, “they fully deserve it”.

OAG: So, after you’ve broken these records, what comes next? (Not that we feel you’re underachieving!)

LS: Well I’m off to Nottingham in September to study Veterinary Science, so I’ll try and work on my technical climbing while I’m there. I’m also hoping to one day take part in a yacht race from the UK to Brazil, but it’s the kind of thing you apply for years in advance.

OAG: What would you say to other people who want to follow their dream?

LS: Just go for it, make it happen. There are so many people who say “I wish I could do that,” but very few people actually do it. I really wish that people would go out and follow their dreams – anything can be achieved if you really put your mind to it.

Leanna is raising money for the Vitiligo Society, a skin disease her mum suffers from. To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/LeannaShuttleworth

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