Jordan Romero, a 13-year-old American boy, on Saturday became the youngest climber to scale Mount Everest.

And the first thing he did after reaching the top of the world's highest peak was, to call his mother.

The curly-haired American - who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa when he was barely 9 - was inspired by a painting in his school hallway of the seven continents' highest mountains.

Temba Tsheri of Nepal, who scaled the peak at the age of 16, held the previous record.

Jordan's team included his father, his father's girlfriend and three Sherpa guides. They left for the peak from the base camp on the Chinese side.

Jordan, whose next goal is to climb the Vinson Massif in Antarctica, carried a number of good luck charms to the top of the Everest.