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Nine Young Record-Breaking Explorers

Published June 11, 2010 at 4:31 PM EDT
The previous record holder,15-year-old Temba Tsheri, summitted Everest two weeks after his 16th birthday in 2001. Temba abandoned his first attempt on the world's tallest mountain in 2000 because of frostbite. He lost three fingers on his right hand and two on his left.
1 of 4  — The previous record holder,15-year-old Temba Tsheri, summitted Everest two weeks after his 16th birthday in 2001. Temba abandoned his first attempt on the world's tallest mountain in 2000 because of frostbite. He lost three fingers on his right hand and two on his left.
The previous record holder,15-year-old Temba Tsheri, summitted Everest two weeks after his 16th birthday in 2001. Temba abandoned his first attempt on the world's tallest mountain in 2000 because of frostbite. He lost three fingers on his right hand and two on his left.
Devendra Singh / AFP/Getty Images/Produced by Mito Habe-Evans
Zac Sunderland, 17, is greeted by media as he arrives at the harbor in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Zac — who is Abby Sunderland's brother — became the youngest person to sail around the world alone on July 16, 2009, and the first under the age of 18.
2 of 4  — Zac Sunderland, 17, is greeted by media as he arrives at the harbor in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Zac — who is Abby Sunderland's brother — became the youngest person to sail around the world alone on July 16, 2009, and the first under the age of 18.
Zac Sunderland, 17, is greeted by media as he arrives at the harbor in Marina Del Rey, Calif. Zac — who is Abby Sunderland's brother — became the youngest person to sail around the world alone on July 16, 2009, and the first under the age of 18.
Gabriel Bouys / AFP/Getty Images/Produced by Mito Habe-Evans
Only six weeks after Zac Sunderland's record,17-year-old Mike Perham of the U.K. set a new one, beating Sunderland's age by two months. Here Perham lights a flare aboard his yacht "Totallymoney.com" after arriving in Portsmouth, U.K., on Aug. 29, 2009.
3 of 4  — Only six weeks after Zac Sunderland's record,17-year-old Mike Perham of the U.K. set a new one, beating Sunderland's age by two months. Here Perham lights a flare aboard his yacht "Totallymoney.com" after arriving in Portsmouth, U.K., on Aug. 29, 2009.
Only six weeks after Zac Sunderland's record,17-year-old Mike Perham of the U.K. set a new one, beating Sunderland's age by two months. Here Perham lights a flare aboard his yacht "Totallymoney.com" after arriving in Portsmouth, U.K., on Aug. 29, 2009.
Adrian Dennis / AFP/Getty Images/Produced by Mito Habe-Evans
16-year-old Jessica Watson — the current record holder for youngest solo sail around the world — sets off on her yacht Ella's Pink Lady on Oct. 18, 2009, in Sydney, Australia.
4 of 4  — 16-year-old Jessica Watson — the current record holder for youngest solo sail around the world — sets off on her yacht Ella's Pink Lady on Oct. 18, 2009, in Sydney, Australia.
16-year-old Jessica Watson — the current record holder for youngest solo sail around the world — sets off on her yacht Ella's Pink Lady on Oct. 18, 2009, in Sydney, Australia.
Brendon Thorne / Getty Images/Produced by Mito Habe-Evans

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