WILL SO PROUD AFTER HIS FIRST CLIMBING WORLD CUP EXPERIENCE
Foundation beneficiary Will Ruane has described his World Cup para-climbing debut as “out of this world” after a top-10 finish in Innsbruck.
Already a British champion in his first year in the sport, Will travelled to his opening World Cup event in Austria alongside some of the sport’s elite competitors.
“What an incredible week,” he said. “I cannot quite believe I competed at the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup. The whole experience was simply out of the world.
“It is definitely one of my proudest achievements, knowing that I am the first person ever to represent GB in the AL-1 category of climbing using upper body only.”
Will says a first taste of this level of competition has provided an impetus for his training and similar experiences in the future.
“A top-10 finish has done nothing but motivate me to get stronger and better to be able to give the lads a bit of British competition next year,” he added.
Will says he met some amazing people from all over the world on the trip and thanked Matt Hampson Foundation sports therapist George Thompson and the Foundation’s Tindall Athlete Development Programme for support alongside
GB Climbing and coach Anita Aggarwal who has taken him “from no climbing experience ever to compete in a World Cup in just over a year”.
Although he is able to enter international competition, Will has to fund his own kit, travel and accommodation while also managing his training around a full-time career. For sponsorship opportunities or more information on the Foundation’s Tindall Athlete Development Programme, email george@hambo.co.uk
