A few weeks ago, Petra Klingler retired from the competition circuit. We spoke to the 32-year-old about the challenges of switching from plastic to rock and how she manages to combine outdoor climbing with an 80% job.
Petra Klingler is the most successful Swiss competitive athlete. Her greatest successes include the 2016 bouldering world championship title and participation in the Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2021.
Successful is Petra Klingler also in ice climbing.After a three-year break, she climbed to the world championship title in Saas Fee in 2022 and won the overall World Cup in 2023. While Klingler started competitive climbing in the disciplines Lead, Speed and bouldering officially ended, she is at the ice climbing one more door open.
But we don’t want to reveal any more at this point.
We asked Petra Klingler these questions:
- How has competitive bouldering changed since 2016?
- What advice do you give to young athletes?
- Will you remain loyal to competitive ice climbing?
- What are the biggest differences between competitive climbing and outdoor climbing for you as an athlete?
- In competitive climbing, you have to "deliver on point". Outdoors, you have countless attempts. Curse or blessing?
- There is no crowd outside to cheer you on. How do you deal with that?
- What goals have you set for yourself when it comes to outdoor climbing?
- How do you deal with the balancing act between an 80% job and a climbing career?
- Do you have any specific projects in mind for the winter?
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