Ice Climbing at the Sochi Olympics

the “lead structure” I got into a good rest position, taking a second to compose myself before sending the rest of the line. As I shook out, I tilted my head back and looked back at a surpr isingly big crowd in awe of what was going on. At that moment it hit me, “Wow, I’m climbing in front of people from all over the world, at the Olympics.”

Canmore’s Jen Olson, Ontar io’s Nathan Kutcher and me were in Sochi climbing because we believe in our sport. There was a lead structure to showcase the competition of technical, powerful, and endurance based climbing. There was also an ice tower, with three sides of climbable ter rain. Competitive climbers from all national backgrounds became fr iends and shared their sport as only climbers can. Non-climbers, the Olympic committee, spectators and athletes saw the passion, beauty and competitiveness of climbing. Ice climbing was given a long-shot by the ioc in hopes of becoming an official medal sport. The crowds, the energy, the excitement and the waves of affir mation proved the long-shot paid off and maybe we will see ice climbing at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, Korea.