"Mount Everest's Next Summit Explains Fuzhao Xiang's Absence in this Year's UTMB Finals"
Chinese Trail Running Star Fuzhao Xiang Prepares for Mount Everest Summit
Fuzhao Xiang, a renowned Chinese trail runner, is gearing up for an ambitious challenge - climbing Mount Everest. The world's highest mountain presents a fresh challenge for the athlete, who recently completed a significant high-altitude climb on Muztagh Ata, a 7,000m peak in China.
Fuzhao Xiang's Muztagh Ata ascent was a training run for Everest, as she aimed for a no-oxygen speed ascent but ultimately chose to use supplemental oxygen during the final 100 meters. The athlete encountered 43mph (70km per hour) winds at the summit, making it a formidable challenge.
Her Instagram account (@xiang.fuzhao) is where you can find her post about climbing Muztagh Ata, and, in the near future, her plans for Mount Everest. The exact summit date has not been publicly announced yet, but her recent social media posts suggest an imminent attempt in the late summer of 2025, likely in August or shortly thereafter.
Fuzhao Xiang's preparation for Everest includes completing challenging climbs such as Muztagh Ata, demonstrating her strength and high-altitude endurance in severe conditions. Her training is focused on endurance and acclimatization, with participation in multiple high-altitude expeditions leading up to Everest. Public references to "Next peak: Mount Everest" in 2025 reflect a shift in her focus entirely toward the Everest summit attempt.
Although there are no detailed reports specifying the exact climbing date on Everest or logistical details like fixed ropes or Camp schedules, her progression through known preparatory climbs and the timing indicated by recent social media posts suggest an imminent attempt. The preparation is typical of serious mountaineers undertaking Everest, involving multiple acclimatization climbs and high-altitude fitness conditioning done in the months leading up to the summit push.
Before her focus shifted entirely to Mount Everest, Fuzhao Xiang made a name for herself in the trail running world. She recently placed second at the 2023 Western States race, with a time of 16:20:03, the third-fastest female finish in history. However, she did not finish the 2022 UTMB race around Mont Blanc.
As Fuzhao Xiang prepares to take on Mount Everest, the world watches with anticipation. Stay tuned for updates on her progress as she embarks on this monumental challenge.
Fuzhao Xiang's previously successful trail running career transformed into a focus on mountaineering, demonstrated by her recent high-altitude climbs like Muztagh Ata, which serves as a form of sports training for Mount Everest. Despite not revealing the exact summit date for Mount Everest, her social media posts hint towards a 2025 attempt, which marks her next sports endeavor.
