Lauren Mukheibir to represent SA at the Olympics
Sport climbing is a type of free climbing in rock climbing where the lead climber clips into pre-drilled permanent bolts for their protection while ascending a route.
Online headline: Lauren Mukheibir gets ready to showcase her climbing skills
Social media teaser: Local based resident wants to break South African records in climbing, and to achieve her own goals by just being the best she can be at the Olympics.
Duduzile Khumalo
ipiphanyk@caxton.co.za
Bryanston-based resident Lauren Mukheibir (22) has made her mark in the South African climbing fraternity after being selected to represent South Africa in the Paris Olympics in August.
She said she started climbing at the age of nine.
“My best friend at the time wanted me to come watch one of her climbing competitions, and from the moment I stepped into that gym, I fell in love with the sport. I begged my parents to let me climb, and it has been history ever since.”
Mukheibir highlighted that it has been 14 years since she started climbing, but she became more of a competitive climber when she was 18, winning the African champion title in 2021 and 2023.
When asked how she feels about representing the country, Mukheibir said, “It feels exceptional while also very daunting. It is an amazing achievement, and I am proud of myself, but the hard work does not end until the event is over.”
She added that she looks forward to the closing ceremony of the Olympics because she thinks it is going to be such an incredible experience, as well as staying in the Olympic Village with the best athletes in the world.
“There are many challenges I face during training, and at this point, it is funding all of the coaching, physios, and bios as it is expensive. To raise funds, I have started a fundraiser on BackaBuddy (Lauren’s Olympic Rock-Climbing Dream).”
Mukheibir says that another challenge is the mental aspect of both climbing and having the motivation to get up each day and do what needs to be done.
“My coaches, Alan Pryce and Devin Sender, help with mental toughness during training, while I motivate myself every day by reminding myself why I am doing this.”
She elaborated that mental preparation for a competition of this size takes months, and every training session is mental preparation for her.
“Every moment counts, and as such, embracing every day, working hard, and putting in the effort is the best way to know that I did everything I could to prepare for the competition. On the day of the competition, I will just embrace the day, try hard, and have fun.”
Mukheibir believes she will bring home knowledge from international competitions and make connections to help enhance the SA route-setting and coaching knowledge base and expertise. Along with helping the junior athletes with their training.
“I plan to just enjoy the whole experience. I am not there to just win any medals; I will be there to make personal bests and South African records, and I will be competitive when I compete but enjoy the rest when I am not.”
