Carlos Soria: 86-year-old climber challenges biological limits

On September 26, legendary Spanish climber Carlos Soria stood on top of Manaslu, Nepal (8,163m) and opened a new page in history for the world of adventure mountaineering.

Carlos Soria challenges his limits at the age of 86 - Photo: Instagram/Carlos Soria

At the age of 86, Carlos Soria not only conquered the 8th highest mountain on the planet but also officially became the oldest person to set foot on a mountain over 8,000m. This feat broke the record of Japanese climber Yuichiro Miura, who conquered Mount Everest in 2013 at the age of 80.

Carlos Soria's story is not just about records, but also about a journey of perseverance and burning passion that can overcome all limits of age and physical strength.

Journey of conquest regardless of age

Born in 1939 in Avila, Spain, Carlos Soria began exploring the granite cliffs near Madrid as a teenager. Working as a carpenter, he spent his weekends pursuing his passion for climbing.

It was not until he was 51 years old (1990) that he conquered the first 8,000m peak, Annapurna.

But what is most amazing is that most of his golden achievements were achieved after the age of 60. He is the only person in the world to have successfully climbed 10 of the 14 peaks over 8,000m after reaching his 60s. Notable milestones in his career include:

Everest (8,848m) at age 62.

K2 (8,611m) - the most dangerous mountain on the planet, 65 years old.

Broad Peak (8,051m) at age 68.

Makalu (8,485m) at age 69.

Kangchenjunga (8,586m) at 75 years old.

Annapurna (8,091m) at age 77.

Manaslu (8,163m) at 86 years old.

A "patchwork" body with an iron will

What makes Carlos Soria extraordinary is not just his age, but also the fact that he conquered the world's steepest peaks with a body that had undergone numerous injuries and major surgeries.

Mr. Carlos Soria is considered one of the great legends of the world of mountaineering - Photo: Instagram/Carlos Soria

Long mountaineering journeys began to take their toll on his body early. Knee problems began at age 51. After his Everest trip, he damaged his knee ligaments and had to undergo a lengthy rehabilitation. The more he climbed, the more his knee joints deteriorated, leading to chronic pain.

To keep his career going, Soria underwent multiple arthroscopy procedures and eventually a total knee replacement, along with a hip replacement. Despite climbing with artificial joints, he refused to give up.

The toughest challenge came in 2023, when he was 84 years old. During a conquest of Dhaulagiri, an unexpected accident occurred at an altitude of 7,700m when a Sherpa slipped and crashed into him, causing him to break his tibia.

Little Carlos Soria among the massive mountains - Photo: Luis Miguel Soriano

He endured hours of painful and dramatic treatment that many thought would be the end of his career. But for Soria, it was just another obstacle to overcome.

The secret of "everlasting youth"

The question is, what is the secret that helps an 86-year-old man, with a body full of injuries, still maintain physical and mental strength to perform miracles?

Training relentlessly : Even after his leg surgery, Soria threw himself into his recovery and never missed a day of training. He trained in the Sierra de Guadarrama mountains near Madrid and had a homemade gym at home with bikes, weights and even a small climbing wall to train on. His discipline and consistency were the foundation of his incredible fitness.

He always maintains daily training - Photo: Instagram/Carlos Soria

Scientific nutrition : Although he has never shared the details, the diet of a top climber like him is certainly very scientific. Sports nutritionists emphasize the importance of consuming enough carbohydrates to provide energy (from sources such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, oats) and protein to restore and nourish muscles.

Mr. Carlos Soria still has a burning passion for mountain climbing at the age of 86 - Photo: Luis Miguel Soriano

Eating healthy and avoiding processed foods is key to optimizing your workout performance and maintaining endurance.

Mental strength and burning passion : This is perhaps Soria's greatest weapon. He has an inspiring philosophy of life: "Para subir, hay que ir" - "If you want to go up, you have to go".

For him, age is just a number. He once said: "Older people often think the game is over for them. There are many people who say I'm 70, 80 years old, but so what? It's a wonderful age."

Caution is also part of his philosophy. The record he is most proud of is not the summits, but the fact that he has never suffered serious frostbite and has never needed a rescue (before the unforeseen accident at Dhaulagiri). He has turned back countless times when conditions felt unsafe. For him, the ascent and descent on his own two feet is the ultimate victory.

Carlos Soria is more than just a climber, he is a symbol of the power of will to overcome conventional limits. His story proves that with discipline, passion and a never-give-up spirit, we can rewrite our own limits, no matter what our age.

THANH DINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/carlos-soria-nha-leo-nui-86-tuoi-thach-thuc-gioi-han-sinh-hoc-20250929205028293.htm