In Memoriam: Klára Kolouchová (6 September 1978 – 3 July 2025)

It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing of Klára Kolouchová, a remarkable alumna of our university and one of the most accomplished Czech mountaineers of all time. Klára tragically died on 3 July 2025 during her ascent of Nanga Parbat in Pakistan, one of the most demanding peaks in the world. She was 46 years old.

Klára studied Business Administration at Anglo-American University and graduated in 2001 as one of the very first graduates of her program. Equipped, as she once noted, with solid English and practical skills, she launched her professional career in London — a time during which she also began training for her first major mountain expedition. That combination of discipline, ambition, and inner drive would come to define the rest of her life.

She was a mother, a wife, an author, and an extraordinary climber — a woman of courage, insight, and unwavering purpose. Klára made history as the first Czech woman to summit Mount Everest in 2007, later achieving similar milestones on K2, Kangchenjunga, Annapurna, and completing the Seven Summits. But for her, ascending the highest peaks in the world was never about collecting trophies. It was about personal growth — a journey of overcoming limitations and building unshakable belief in one’s own strength.

Beyond her mountaineering achievements, Klára was also a gifted communicator and public figure. Through her books, public speaking, and the documentary K2: My Way, she shared her life story with humility, honesty, and a clear desire to uplift others. She remained closely connected to the AAU community, where her story continues to inspire both alumni and students alike.

We are proud of the legacy and profound message Klára leaves behind. Her life reminds us that bravery is not only found on mountaintops, but also in the choices we make every day — to grow, to persist, and to go our own way. The AAU community will always remember her strength and spirit, and we will continue to encourage new generations to follow their own path, just as Klára did.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her husband Martin, her children Emma and Cyril, her family, and all who were touched by her extraordinary life.

May her memory be a blessing.