by Eliza Sterling

She’s a force in competitive climbing, a seasoned rock climber, and an Olympic athlete. Welcome to the intriguing world of one of Britain’s most accomplished climbers. Now that she’s moved on from her illustrious career in sport climbing, she has embraced the exhilarating world of rock climbing, all while juggling the demands of motherhood.

The Journey of a World Champion

This sportswoman started her journey into the climbing world at a tender age of four. After being inspired by a climbing event she saw on TV, she participated in her first competition at the age of seven and never once looked back. Even though she had wished to be in better shape for Tokyo 2020 Olympics, she took pride in being one of the first Olympians in her sport and was already content with her remarkable achievements in the competitive arena.

Since her retirement, she has taken on rock climbing, an entirely different beast from the competition-centric world she was used to. What remained constant, however, is her passion for the challenges the sport presents and her desire to connect more with the climbing community.

Trials and Triumphs: Overcoming Injuries

Though her journey is a tale of success, it hasn’t been without obstacles. From common finger injuries to shoulder-related issues, she has faced it all. The most significant challenge was her persistent knee problem, which necessitated not one, but two surgeries. Unfortunately, a period of intense rehab was cut short by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was a setback in getting back to her best performance.

The Balancing Act: Pregnancy and Climbing

After the Olympics, she welcomed a new phase in life—motherhood. Despite undergoing double-knee surgery when her baby girl was just six months old, she refused to let it hinder her active lifestyle. To her surprise, her strength showed significant improvements post-pregnancy, even with less training than before, and she got back on her feet before her little one could even start walking.

The Training Schedule of a Champion

Let’s take a peek into the champion’s training week, filled with sessions of finger strength exercises, board sessions, and intense four-hour wall or outdoor climbing sessions. The training regimens might be gruelling—that’s a given when you used to train for nine straight days with only one day to rest. However, her strong determination has been instrumental in getting her back on track.

Nourishment Tips

Our champion believes in the importance of maintaining a steady intake of calories to keep up with her rigorous training and breastfeeding. Keeping up with an increased consumption required for her training regime is just as crucial as the training itself, and she ensures to always have snacks around for energy-boosts whenever needed.

Her Milestones

She considers bringing life into the world and making her daughter gleefully smile as her greatest accomplishments. Yet the climbing goals are just as prolific! She is currently tackling a challenge to ascend the UK’s 50 best Grade VII climbs—an ambition she never had the luxury or time for during her competition years but keeps her motivation alive.

rock climbing, competitive climber, sport climbing, women in sports, climbing community, Tokyo 2020 Olympics, training regime, overcoming injuries, motherhood, pregnancy, nutritional tips, goal-setting