A 17-year-old Scottish teenager has set her sights on the Olympics after achieving the title of Britain’s fastest female climber. Ava Hamilton has quickly risen to become one of Europe’s top speed-climbers since taking up the sport while attending school. Her ambition now is to represent Team GB at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Speed climbing is a relatively new sport that involves racing up walls as high as 15m (50ft) in a matter of seconds, with the current world record standing at 4.798 seconds. Ava made headlines by breaking the UK women’s record at the European Championships this year with a time of 8.64 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Shauna Coxsey in 2019 with a time of 9.1 seconds.
Having started speed climbing at the age of 15 while studying at Glasgow’s Kelvinside Academy, Ava’s dedication to the sport has been evident. Despite having two part-time jobs to support her passion, she continues to aim for new heights in her climbing career. Kelvinside Academy’s rector, Dan Wyatt, commended Ava for her commitment and hard work, emphasising the sacrifices she has made along the way.
While speed climbing made its debut at the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020, accessibility remains a challenge in Scotland, with only one full-sized speed climbing wall in Edinburgh and a limited number across the UK. Ava acknowledges the need for greater accessibility to the sport but remains optimistic about its future.
In pursuit of her Olympic dreams, Ava is gearing up for a three-month training camp in Salt Lake City, USA. With support from the Gordon Brown Memorial Fund and her family, Ava continues to seek sponsorship to fund her competitions and training. Despite the financial challenges, Ava’s love for the sport and determination drive her forward as she strives to achieve world-class performance levels.
Ava’s inspiring journey showcases the perseverance and dedication required to excel in sports. As she pushes boundaries in speed climbing, her aspirations of competing at the highest level serve as a beacon of hope for aspiring climbers in Scotland and beyond. With her eyes set on Olympic success, Ava Hamilton is poised to make her mark in the world of competitive climbing.