Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa

About

Dachhiri Dawa Sherpa is one of the most extraordinary multi-discipline endurance athletes in history, born November 3, 1969, in Taksindu, Solukhumbu, Nepal. He established himself as Nepal's pioneering ultra-trail runner, winning over 100 races across the global circuit — including the inaugural Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc in 2003 (20:05) — before pivoting entirely to a different elite sport. At the peak of his trail running career, the Nepalese Olympic Federation asked him to learn cross-country skiing from scratch so that Nepal could have a representative at the Winter Olympics in Turin 2006. He accepted the challenge with characteristic dedication, and went on to compete in three consecutive Winter Olympic Games: Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010, and Sochi 2014, recording his best Olympic finish of 86th in the 15km at Sochi. His trail victories span continents and include the Annapurna Trail, Les Templiers, L'Ardéchois, Le Tchimbé Raid, and the Trail Ubaye Salomon. Now a guide and experience provider through his company Dawa Sherpa Experiences, he remains a revered ambassador for Nepali mountain culture and a symbol of what is possible for athletes from the high Himalaya.

Notable Wins

• — UTMB 2003 (inaugural winner
• — 20:05)
• — Annapurna Trail
• — Les Templiers
• — L'Ardéchois
• — Le Tchimbé Raid
• — Trail Ubaye Salomon; 100+ career victories; 3× Winter Olympian (2006
• — 2010
• — 2014)

Race History