An interview with the unstoppable Sean McColl
O
n Sept. 14, 2014 commentators raved, “A stunning per for mance by the rock climber Sean McColl. We’ve never seen anything like it. Unbelievable, this guy has never competed as a ninja before. Holy smokes, Sean McColl, ever ybody.” McColl stunned judges, athletes and spectators on the chal leng ing stage t wo of the Esquire Network’s now-famous Within a decade of his f irst competition, McColl had won not only ever y major comp in rock climbing, but one of the most dif f icult championships in America. Many people wonder, just how’d he do it?
McColl is one of Canada’s few professional rock climbers. At 27 years old, he has established himself as a cutting-edge athlete. Born in Vancouver, he found early success on Canada’s youth national team. He won the gold medal in lead climbing in his age group at the 2002,