GB Paraclimbing Team announced for 2025 Season

This new squad structure is part of a broader initiative to enhance athlete development as the team builds towards the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. In December 2024, UK Sport pledged a significant investment of £500,000 across the 4-year cycle to support the GB Paraclimbing programme.

The revised squad structure aims to provide tailored support to athletes at different stages of their competitive journey:

• Podium Squad: This squad consists of climbers capable of winning medals at World Cup events, with a strong focus on podium performances at the 2025 World Championships.
• Progression Squad: Dedicated to nurturing the country's top emerging talent, ensuring these athletes can advance through competition rounds at World Cup events and achieve podium finishes at European Cup and Championship events.
• Development Squad: Designed for climbers working towards making round progression at World Cup events, with an emphasis on skill development and improving performance at Masters, National Federation, and European Cup events.

Among the athletes joining the Podium Squad is AU2 athlete Seb Musson. At just 18 years old, Musson has been competing internationally since 2023. Last year, he won silver at the IFSC Paraclimbing European Championship in Villars and bronze at the IFSC World Cup in Arco.

Laura Needham, the BMC’s Head of Performance, said:

"We’re delighted to be working with a squad that is filled with both emerging and highly seasoned talent. The new season always brings a level of excitement, even more so with the inclusion of Paraclimbing in the next Paralympic cycle. As we head into this new cycle, it’s vitally important that our teams receive the structure and development needed to succeed at the Games in four years’ time."

Zoe Spriggins, the BMC’s Para Team Manager, said:

“The calendar this year is looking exciting, with staple events such as Salt Lake City and Innsbruck. It will be great to see the team performing on the international stage, culminating in the World Championships in Seoul in September. We are also excited to look ahead to our own domestic calendar, where we will see the athletes compete at the British Paraclimbing Championships in August”.

The GB Climbing Paraclimbing team has been competing internationally since 2012, supporting athletes in winning multiple World Championship medals to date.

The team will be supported by a volunteer coaching team, including Jay Jackson, Suzan Dudnik, Richard Slocock, Alex James, Anna Brown, Jamie Vardy, and Hannah Baldwin.