Ashima Shiraishi

Ashima Shiraishi is a professional climber, artist, author, and advocate whose groundbreaking career has made her one of the most influential climbers of her generation. Born and raised in New York City, Ashima discovered climbing at just six years old on Rat Rock in Central Park. She quickly emerged as a generational talent, setting numerous age records and pushing the boundaries of what was thought possible for young climbers and women in the sport.

At age 14, Ashima became the first woman to climb V15 with her ascent of Horizon in Japan, while also becoming the youngest person at the time to climb the grade. Her competition career has been equally remarkable. She earned six Youth World Championship titles across Lead and Bouldering, won the 2017 USA Climbing Sport Open National Championship, and became the 2019 USA Climbing Bouldering Open National Champion. Her outdoor résumé also includes ascents up to 5.14d (9a) and some of the world's most difficult boulder problems.

Beyond pushing the limits of climbing, Ashima has built a career at the intersection of sport, creativity, and storytelling. She is the author of the children's book How to Solve a Problem and the subject of the feature documentary ASHIMA, which chronicles her journey as a young climbing prodigy and her relationship with her father. Her creative work continues with projects such as her 2026 film TAMASHI, exploring climbing through the lenses of movement, identity, family, and place.

Ashima is also a co-founder of All Rise Outdoors, a nonprofit working to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoor community. Through her advocacy and community work, she has helped expand conversations around representation and belonging in climbing while encouraging more people to see themselves as having a place in the outdoors.

From historic first ascents and world championship titles to art, storytelling, and community leadership, Ashima's impact reaches far beyond her accomplishments on the wall. She continues to use her platform to push climbing forward while helping shape a more creative, welcoming, and inclusive future for the sport.