15-year-old climber Ashima Shiraishi is pushing the envelope for women and men alike

Like Sasha DiGiulian before her, 15-year-old Ashima Shiraishi is breaking new ground for female climbers. She is the first female — and youngest climber of either gender — to complete a sport route with a difficulty grade of 9a+ (5.15a).

Ashima tackled the aforementioned climb — known as “Open Your Mind Direct” — at age 12. Located in Santa Linya, Spain, the route required Ashima to climb a portion feet first, hooking her toes on tiny outcroppings on the imposing cliff.

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[fusion_title size=”4″]SOCIAL CLIMBER[/fusion_title]

Yesterday, on our second to last day, I bouldered for the first time in a long time! I surprised myself by sending a hard V12 (8a+) called Bonzai in a few tries! | Photo: @henning_wang_

A photo posted by Ashima | 阿島 (@ashimashiraishi) on Jun 29, 2015 at 10:34am PDT

Ashima, a native of New York City, was only 7 when she started to training on the large boulders in Central Park. In the intervening years she’s picked up nearly 50,000 followers on Instagram where she documents her climbing exploits.

Videos starring Ashima have also attracted out-sized attention, like the above Outside Television offering which featured her virtuosity at 9-years-old.

[fusion_title size=”4″]GOLDEN DREAMS[/fusion_title]

In case you haven't heard, climbing will be in the#2020olympics in #Tokyo!!!!!!! THANK YOU to all of the athletes and THE WHOLE CLIMBING COMMUNITY for the hard work you put into for this to happen!!! @stonerideryuji @noguchi_akiyo My dream was to one day compete in the Olympics as a rock climber since day 1 of my climbing journey. I will work hard to realize that dream! @olympics #climbingolympics

A photo posted by Ashima | 阿島 (@ashimashiraishi) on Sep 28, 2015 at 4:31am PDT

Ashima has aspirations to perform in the first ever Olympic climbing competition at the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo. With five more years of climbing experience under her belt, she will be a prohibitive favorite to stand atop the medal podium.

[fusion_title size=”4″]RACE TO THE TOP[/fusion_title]

Last year, she raced with Alex Puccio at the Psicobloc Masters in Park City, Utah, and gave the veteran climber a good run for the money. Announced by Joe Rogan, with his typically over-the-top flair, the event gave a small taste of how exciting the Olympic competition should be.