Italy, Spain and the 8000m peaks by Nives Meroi and Edurne Pasaban

My name is Ismael Santos, I'm Spanish and a former professional basketball player (Real Madrid, Benetton Treviso). I've been living in Italy for 10 years where I discovered my passion for mountaineering which in turn has become my profession.

Last week Kangchenjunga 8586m witnessed another chapter in the female race for all 8000m peaks. Two women, two nations, two different visions. The Italian Nives Meroi and the Spaniard Edurne Pasabán. I don't want to debate the merits of the different styles, rather, I'd like to comment about the enormous differences in how these two mountaineers are treated by their respective countries.

I'm writing this letter with a heart split in two by a great emotion and a great bitterness. Being Spanish, I was filled with pride when I saw the support that the entire nation gave Edurne Pasabán. Spain identified itself with the climber and helped her reach the extraordinary goal, not only as mountaineer but also as a woman and human being. On the other hand, I was enormously sorry to see how in Italy, my second home, a great climber like Nives Meroi, her entire career and the goal she is attempting to reach, has gone by practically unnoticed.

I've seen various TV reports about Pasabán's arrival at the airport and I was touched to see so many people went to welcome her, to show her that she isn't alone, that every 8000m peak she climbs is climbed with all of Spain. External support is fundamental when you experience dramatic moments like she has. On the other hand, I was sad to see a great mountaineer like Nives Meroi struggle to find sponsors and being practically ignored after having given her country so much joy.

Regardless of the different personalities and the different ways in which these two extraordinary women interpret the mountains and life in general, this latest episode has made me reflect about how in 2009 two nations, geographically so close, have such a diverse way of conceiving and portraying the role of a woman in this race to achieve a goal which will remain in history books forever. On the one hand there is a nation which goes forward via the media, which identifies itself socially with the figure of a strong woman, capable of reaching goals never achieved before, which wants to make a legitimate claim to the role of women in our society. On the other hand a nation which talks little about this moment and, when it does so, only from a mountaineering point of view, which hasn't yet understood that it is wasting a great opportunity to send a strong social message. Nives' challenge could be much more than just a mountaineering goal, something far deeper which could leave its marks in history.

I conclude this letter by cheering on both marvellous women: ¡Aupa Edurne! Forza Nives!

Ismael Santos