In some sports the difference for success is hundredths of seconds.
In sport climbing it’s the difference of two or three holds. Two or three movements on the wall that decides qualification to the next round, from semis to finals, and then, the colour of a medal.
The young Australian Sport Climbing team produced career best performances in the initial days of competition as it continues to build towards the Los Angeles (LA) 2028 and Brisbane 2032 Games.
But it was Sarah Larcombe who put the past 12-months of injury behind her to secure her second World Championship silver medal in Seoul, edging closer to her French rival with only four holds separating the two.
“My preparation for Seoul World Championships was not what I expected, and not what I wanted,” said Larcombe.
“I was having a lot of fun climbing outdoors in my off-season, and in February I took a pretty nasty fall and I broke bones in my foot, leg and my back.”
Taking it in her stride and continuing to train in Melbourne under the watchful eye of National Para Coach, Alex MacInnes, and local coach Sarah Davis, Larcombe knows that patience and hard work is the key to future success.
Despite the tight turnaround to recovery from her injuries, she still went into the World Championships with the expectation and belief to finish on the podium.
Para climbing will make its Paralympic debut in LA, and Larcombe has her eyes firmly set on winning Australia’s first Para climbing medal in her division.
Like all athletes the journey is long and hard, but Sarah with the support of the Victorian Institute of Sport and Sport Climbing Australia performance teams will get there, it’s just a matter of time.
For the entire Australian Sport Climbing team, they are just getting started.
Credit: Sport Climbing Australia
