Ashima Shiraishi

Ashima Shiraishi is widely recognized as one of the world's most talented young climbers of all time. Unlike many in her sport, Shiraishi's love of climbing was not born in the Yosemite Valley, but instead in New York City's Central Park and Brooklyn Boulders climbing gym. At age 13, Shiraishi became only the second female climber to successfully send a V14 bouldering problem. A week before her 15th birthday, she climbed a boulder problem with a difficulty rating of V15. This remarkable achievement made her not only the first woman to ever climb a V15 boulder problem, but also the youngest person, male or female, ever to do so.

Selected as one of CNN’s 30 Most Influential Teens, Shiraishi has been profiled by several major publications. The New York Times has called her a Bouldering Phenom. Outside Magazine has described her as a Young Crusher. And The New Yorker calls her The Wall Dancer. She has also been profiled by CNN Amanpour, The Today Show, The Disney Channel among others.

Shiraishi stands five foot one, with an unassuming demeanor and a soft-spoken humbleness. But her disposition belies her ambitious goals and competitive spirit. She’s been called the most accomplished female climber in history, having climbed two V15s (a grade no other woman has attained) and multiple V14s. At the 2017 IFSC Youth World Championships in Innsbruck, Austria, Shiraishi won three medals: gold in Bouldering and Sport, and a silver in Combined. She’s now a multiple discipline three-time defending World Youth Champion.