It looks less intimidating than scaling a craggy rock face, or even the 15m high climbing wall at Warwick. Coxsey was critical when the IOC announced that climbing would be added to the Tokyo programme -- saying the three-format event was rather contrived. While bouldering and speed climbing require explosive movements and power, lead climbing is more akin to mountain climbing with athletes, attached to the wall with ropes, attempting to reach as high as possible without falling off. Coxsey insists climbing is as natural for humans as walking and still finds it "surreal" that her lifelong passion could lead her to the Olympics next year. It means, for the time being, she will more likely be found on a man-made climbing wall than her local Peak District crags.

Source: The Star May 24, 2019 18:11 UTC