I’ll do my best to climb to the top says Shauna
OLYMPIC climber Shauna Coxsey from Runcorn has thanked her supporters as she jetted off in search of medals among the world elite in Tokyo.
Professional rock climber Shauna, 28, whose glittering career has already amassed a haul of medals from the Climbing World Cup and other competitions, will be looking to add to the collection as sport climbing takes place for the first time at the Olympics.
Dubbed “spider-woman” by some, Team GB athlete Shauna has been climbing since the age of four, and continued as she grew up in Dukesfield and attended The Grange School, ultimately ascending to the top of her sport.
The women’s sport climbing qualification round will take place on Sunday, August 4, with the final two days later on Tuesday, August 6.
The competition will be divided into speed climbing, bouldering and lead climbing events. Supporters hoping to watch her events can keep an eye on the BBC schedule - which under its licensing agreement is streaming to live events at any one time, meaning climbing might lose a terrestrial live TV spot, while Eurosport has comprehensive live rights.
The BBC is also showing daily highlights.
In a post liked more than 44,000 times on Instagram and nearly 9,000 times on Facebook, Shauna expressed her gratitude for being able to compete at the games.
She said: “I’m on the plane!! I am actually on the way to the Tokyo Olympic Games where Sport Climbing will make its Olympic debut.
“It’s all starting to sink in. This is a monumental moment for our sport.
“It’s a true privilege to be on the way to Tokyo and to play a small part.
“Thinking back over my time as a competitive climber, I have an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
“I never could have even dreamed to be where I am now, to have achieved the things that I have.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shauna Coxsey (@ shaunacoxsey) “It’s impossible to put into words all of the feelings that I have right now.
“The journey sure hasn’t been easy and some battles have been brutal to say the least.
“The last years definitely hadn’t been what I expected or wanted. Navigating challenges.
“Learning acceptance. Adjusting my ideas of success.
“To have got back up no matter what, never forgetting to smile and embrace the positives, to be here, about to become an Olympian, sharing my reality with you all, this is success to me.
“There was a time I was motivated by the idea of being the best.
“Right now I am beyond grateful that I can climb, that I can compete and I can get out there and give it my all one last time.
“Thank you so so much to all of you who have sent me kind messages and supported me!
“You are all truly wonderful!”