Mrika Nikçi

She was born in Peja, Republic of Kosovo where she now lives. She started her karate training when she was just 7 years old^{[citation needed]}. She was the champion of Kosovo in Kata and Kumite^{[citation needed]}. Mrika also has a black belt grade^{[citation needed]}. Mrika was also a very successful ski competitor^{[citation needed]}.

Mrika with the support of her father, who accompanies her in all mountaineering activities, has begun with mountaineering when she was 13 years old. Mrika has climbed national and regional summits such as:

• Gjeravica (2,656m), winter climb (highest peak of Kosovo)
• Jezerca (2,694m), winter climb, highest peak in the Dinaric Alps in Albania
• Korab (2,794m) (Macedonia–Albania border), the highest peak in Albania, winter climb
• Hajla (2,403m) winter climbing (Kosovo)
• Maja e Titos (2,747m)-winter climb (Macedonia)
• Maja e Zezë (2,528m)–winter climbing (Kosovo)

During 2017 Mrika has continued with her mountaineering activities by climbing 2 summits in Bulgaria, specifically the summit of the Seven Lakes in Rila with an altitude (alt) of 2,648 meters, and the summit of Musala 2,925 alt, the highest peak in Balkan. Also, during 2017 Mrika has attempted the climbing of other European summits. Due to the weather conditions that have undermined the safety of the mountaineers participating in the expedition, these summit attempts will need to repeat:

1. Mount Blanc– 4,880 m – attempt and climb up to the alt of 3,700 m (France).
2. Grand Paradiso– 4,061m – attempt and climb up to the alt of 3,650 m (Italy).

In 2018 Mrika has continued with mountaineering and achieved additional success by climbing to another 2 summits, specifically Grossglockner - 3,798 alt (Austria), and one of the Seven World Summits, the summit of Kilimanjaro - 5,895 alt (Tanzania - Africa).

Based on the success achieved so far and her will to reach a world class level, Mrika and her father have begun preparations for the accomplishment of the Seven World Summits Challenge, and climbed all the seven summits by the following itinerary:

1. Kilimanjaro - Africa (5,895m), climbed January 29, 2018^[10]
2. Vinson - Antarctica (4,892m), climbed on December 16, 2018^[11]
3. Aconcagua - South America (6,962m), climbed 16 February 2019^[12]
4. Mount Everest - Asia (8,848m), climbed 27 May 2019^[13][14]
5. Denali - North America (6,194m) climbed on 20 June 2019^[15]
6. Mount Elbrus - Russia (5,642m), climbed on 20 July 2019^[16]
7. Carstensz Pyramid - Indonesia (4,884m), climbed on 15 August 2019^[17]

During her challenge she has experienced difficulties that each mountaineer dream off. During the Mount Everest Summit she has avoided the risks by cleverly choosing the time where to climb. In here interview with CNN she said :

"You know what, when you decide to come and climb Everest, you prepare yourself that you are going to see dead bodies," Mrika adds. "Maybe something can happen to you, your father, or whoever you're climbing with, so you prepare. You see a dead body and it's like, it's ok. He's gone. I don't want to be like him; I have to move on."

"We saw dead bodies along the way. I think that maybe this could reflect negatively on her -- she's only 17 -- but no, she passed that," Arianit (her father) says.^[18]