The

Road

To

Becoming

Climbing's

First

Paralympian

Amruta and Lucia were each born without their left forearm, placing them both in the AU2 Paraclimbing category for international competitions. Whilst they both compete on the World Cup stage, that wasn’t always the case.  

 For Lucia, a 31-year-old from Venice, climbing began at age 18 and quickly became a passion fueled by a love for movement and challenge.  

 “Feeling my body move with flow is like dancing. I love climbing because your muscles and mind are equally important”, Lucia describes. Since her first competition in 2015, she has consistently landed on the podium, most recently winning the World Cup in Arco. Climbing with Lucia, it’s clear that she’s driven by a fierce passion for the sport and doesn't do things by halves in training or in competition.  

Amruta, the 32-year-old Swiss climber who started climbing in 2018, describes her journey with humility, though her rapid progression is extraordinary. Within four years, she rose from a complete beginner to representing Switzerland on the world stage.  

Despite their impressive accomplishments, both athletes face the realities of limited professional support for para athletes. For Lucia, this has meant sacrifices like relocating to Arco to train and living in a van to maximize climbing opportunities. Amruta juggles her climbing career with a demanding work schedule. 

With the Paralympics on the horizon, the world will soon witness the incredible achievements of paraclimbers on the biggest stage of all. 

The inclusion of Paraclimbing in the LA 2028 Paralympic Games represents a pivotal moment for the sport. Increased visibility and support could bridge the gap between able-bodied and para athletes, leading to better facilities, sponsorships, and training opportunities. However, questions remain about which event categories will be included—a challenge that echoes the initial struggles of climbing’s debut in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.  

The announcement that Paraclimbing will be included at the 2028 LA Paralympics bodes well for the professionalization of parasport and this could push the sport forward even faster – with more time to train and recover, better support teams, and more incentive to start. I’m hopeful, like Lucia and Amruta, that the Paralympic spotlight can help to bring more opportunities into Paraclimbing.

Spending time with Amruta and Lucia highlighted the profound lessons that  climbing teaches. It’s not just about medals or international stages but about resilience, community, and the joy of overcoming obstacles. Watching them collaborate, even as competitors, was a reminder of climbing’s unique spirit: a sport that thrives on shared knowledge and mutual encouragement. 

Their commitment to showing that climbing is for everyone – regardless of physical differences – is a powerful message. “Of course it’s possible,” they both emphasized, reflecting the core ethos of climbing and inspiring others to approach challenges with a positive attitude. 

Spending a day talking to Lucia and Amy about their careers, it was really affirming to see so clearly the deep love for climbing and the lessons it teaches us underpinning their competitive goals.  

Whilst medals, accolades and Olympic appearances are a part of competition climbing, it seemed to me like the personal value that can be found in dedicating yourself to a much deeper rooted purpose speaks more loudly in the story of Amy and Lucias climbing lives.  

It was motivating to hear Amy and Lucia’s deep care for showing themselves, and others that climbing really is for everybody, and that barriers to entry can be overcome, in fact, that belief is at the very heart of our sport. 

Thanks again to Mammut and to Amy and Lucia for helping us to make this project a reality.