At the moment, all roads are leading to Paris and for Lauren Mukheibir, that means the chance to represent SA in the Olympics for Rock Climbing
Johannesburg, South Africa (02 July 2024) – Lauren Mukheibir from Sandton, Johannesburg, has been training for the past 22 months to represent SA at the Paris Olympics. She is the reigning female African Champion representing South Africa in Sport Climbing and has been doing the sport for the past 14 years.
Drawing on that experience, Lauren is gearing up for an exciting Olympics. Like many athletes in South Africa, self-funding her way to the Olympics is challenging. She, too, has turned to crowdfunding in the hopes of raising enough to represent South Africa.
With successful funding, Lauren is slated to compete in both the Boulder and Lead categories, with the events scheduled from August 6th to 8th, 2024. She joins four other selected athletes who will hopefully compete this year.
The Lead category involves climbing a 16-metre-high wall with a route worth 100 points, while the Boulder category comprises four boulders, each worth 25 points. The combined scores from both events will determine the final placements out of a total of 200 points.
“I train about 20 hours a week—10 hours of climbing and 10 hours of strength training; it’s what my body can handle. Climbing at such a high level requires a lot of confidence and bravery,” Lauren explains.
To get to the Olympics, she must personally cover costs for training sessions, physiotherapy, medical consultations, equipment, and travel. Her parents have been a great help; however, their support can only go so far.
“Funding everything myself is a daunting task. I’m handling the expenses for the Innsbruck World Cup without any support from government or national bodies. The financial strain from constant travelling can be overwhelming at times,” Lauren shares. She is profoundly thankful to her parents for their unwavering emotional, physical, and financial support.
“Climbing has influenced my life in so many different ways. From keeping me happy to giving me a purpose in the COVID months. I wouldn’t be where I am today without it,” Lauren reflects. “Representing South Africa in Paris means a great deal to me because, well, it’s just such an honour to be able to compete for my country, let alone at the Paris 2024 Olympics. It also means that I’ve put in the work to make my dreams come true.”
So far, 16 donors have helped her raise R21,000 towards her R200,000 goal. Lauren is grateful for every contribution, no matter how small, as each donation significantly aids her preparations for Paris.
“A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Your support has funded numerous training sessions in Perth and several physiotherapy appointments,” she expresses.
To support Lauren in her Olympic journey here.