August 29, 2025 • 15 mins
A Whanganui amputee is set to compete in the Para Climbing World Championships in Seoul, Korea next month.
Rachel Māia sustained her injury while climbing at the age of 16, and opted to have it amputated in 2018.
She has won a world bronze before at the World Championships and her sport has been accepted on to the programme for the first time for the LA28 Paralympic Games.
She joined Piney to share her incredible story.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks edb keep We.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Rachel Meyer will compete in the Power Climbing World championshipston
Soul Career in late September. Hers is quite the story
which we're about to get some insight into Rachel Myer's
with us. Rachel, can we take it back? Tell us
about the injury you sustained when you were sixteen years
(00:33):
of age.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, I tell the children, imagine make my vegetables in
my leg fell off. Love it, which I'm pretty sure
he's still off. Another adaptive athlete's actually the parents love it.
I had a climbing excellent when I was sixteen. It
was actually a very controlled, technically safe drop and a
bouldering facility. I had a spotter. I felt like the
(00:57):
last move that I could have done to get to
the walk off would have been a bit unhinged. I
was pretty tired, so I did a very controlled full.
Unfortunately went through a little margin where the facility of
Dutch takes Chris back together, so it didn't really work
out too well for me. I had bone grafts from
my hip into one ankle, along with a lot of
(01:18):
metal wear, and it also broke the other one and
then went on to have eighteen, well more now years
of disability and mobility challenges and pain.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
So you didn't have you amputation came later, didn't it.
You went through multiple attempts to repair it. Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah? I had ten surgeries before the amputation, which was
actually elective, and the last surgery before the amputation was
an experimental one where the surgeon looked at me anysic look,
I've got to be honest, I've only done this once
before and it didn't work, and you're going to need
to be pretty resilient. And they showed me a picture
of what they were going to do, and it was
this massive metal expit frame where they drilled into the
(02:00):
shin and the foot and wires and rods hanging out
of the leg and the foot, and then they gave
you a pair of spanners and you have to slowly
wine your ankle apart yourself over a period of time.
And that frame stayed on for four months, during which
time I was parenting, you know, three kids, one of
them with a disability herself very high needs, and one
of them still preschool age, and I would crouch into
(02:22):
kindy with this big exit frame on my leg, and
all these three four year olds will be tugging on
their mum's leaves saying, look, look, that lady's a transformer.
So it was pretty hectic, and that was like the
last attempts to stay this leg that had just given
me a lifetime, you know, my entire adult life of pain,
(02:42):
and I wasn't going anywhere with it. So I just
decided to fight for change.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So you opted for below the knee amputation on that stage.
Was it a relatively straightforward decision or did you think yourself,
hang on, I'm going to take half my leg off here.
I'm making a decision to get rid of half of
my leg here.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
No. I was all in by that point. I was
competing as a para athlete unable to use the leg,
and I'd created this life for myself where I knew
worst case scenario if I had issues with the amputation
or I didn't get mobile on a prosthetic. I had
this thing that gave me joy and gave me purpose
in my climbing, and I had community and connections who
(03:23):
were able to help me through it. And it really
is just such a testament to you know, the words
fano and the wider sense of family and the people
around me that had carried me. And it's for sure
I've put some gritin, resilience in and thought to recreate
my own life, but I've also been carried thereby so
many people, and yeah, I was all.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
In, can you just clarify? So do you climb with
a prosthetic leg or not?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That is an excellent question. I have competed more often
without a prosthetic than but that's been due to ongoing
challenges with my stump. I did end up with some
really difficult challenges with my residulum that involved another amputation
into twenty two on the same leg, I lost more
(04:08):
of it and so as it's worked out, most of
my comps have been without a prosthetic. But this year
I'm back on a climbing leg and I'm really enjoying that.
It's a different style. Our category of Wahini who compete
in the lower limb field, we all have varying degree
of limb loss, so it's all we're almosting one leg,
(04:29):
but it could be left or right, it could be
above or below the knee, and we may or may
not use a prosthetic and it's really against us in
the wall. You know, how we adapt to our difference
and what creative solutions we come up with in the
moment to like problem solve the route that I've given
us that we've never seen this form, I've never climbed,
and we've got this one chance to shine. So yeah,
(04:51):
it's a bit of both. And I'm really looking forward
to this year to being back out there with the
prosthetic and a May twenty twenty five or first World Cup.
This year I was on a prosthetic and canily with
the bronze, which was very exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Indeed, I saw that, so obviously it's that that bodes
well for career. So I'm just trying to get my
head round there. So before you had the amputation, you
were still power climbing, but in a different class, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
That's crazy. I compared for one season and just one
competition actually and the reduced power for impaired range of
power category, And yeah, that was my introduction to climbing
on the international stage as a para athlete. And it
was actually the event where I was able to meet
(05:38):
a lot of amputees and talk to them and get
to know their story and the potential potential and possibilities
if I chose amputation of a pathway and I went
home from that competition and after the elective surgery.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Did the amputation stop the pain?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
It stopped the pain from the damage I was living with.
But unfortunately, because they'd had ten surgeries previously, I was
high risk of neurological pain from severing those nerves, and
I now live with chronic chronic nerve pain. So at
the moment, because we're speaking, I'm probably sitting on like
a seven out of ten paint. So it feels like
(06:20):
I don't know if you've vapped yourself with an electric sense,
but well, it feels like an electric sense, but instead
of being like just a zap, it's non stop. It
just it never stopped.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, I touched an electric fence once, but it was
for about half a second. So I get in a
seven out of Is that where you where you live?
Day to day? At a seven out of ten.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Day to day seven? But like throughout the day that
we'll like escalate to a ten, and you know, evenings
in particular in that time, I won't sleep unless I've
had a stative. It just doesn't stop. It's just always there.
It's it's part of my journey now and I've just
learned so like trying to turn the volume up on
joy is like I guess, medicine to the soul and
the body, and that for climbing comes in. When I'm climbing,
(07:04):
the pain's still there, but it's quieter, and I've like
I've found a way to move and to feel free
and to feel live. And I guess like I'm also
pretty scared of heights, So lots of adrenaline and that
helps manage pain, and I feel like I have perfect
in it and maybe get to live a life with
impact for others. So, yeah, did you.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Say you were scared of as? Did you say you
were scared of heights?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Scared of heights of public speaking? Wow?
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Here we are, I know exactly amazing. You want Brawnz
At the twenty twenty Free World Champs tell us.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
About that, say, Will Champs was really challenging to me.
I actually had a very difficult situation with my daughter
who's heigh needs a month or two before the event,
and I ended up with a concussion and injury. Parenting
a special needs teenager on your hands and knees or
encrutches or wheelchairs. Just it's hard. And so I actually
(07:59):
took a big rest before that event, and the morning
I meant to fly out, I was lying on the
couch going yet not going to go, Like my heart's
I'm going to fail, it's not worth it. And a
friend came over and she literally packed my bag and
packed me out and put me on the plane. And
when I got there, I realized, you know, I just
it really sent home to me again how important it
(08:19):
is to do something for ourselves in a month's the
hard things. And family is important, but our own identity
is important too. So I just decided to go out
there and give it how and be in the moment.
I wasn't wearing a prosthetic, I couldn't walk, and I
came away with a bronze And yeah, I wear a
lot of emotion, and my heart's on my sleeve all
the time. And I think that just like shows how
(08:42):
important it is to me to be able to like
honor and reflect and be grounded and like the power
we have in ourselves to recreate our lives and to
find our identity and amongst all those other labels that
we carry, some of them good like mother, sister, friend,
all of those things, but also other labels that perhaps
we put on ourselves or other people give to us
(09:04):
then are more negative. And yeah, it was a really
great moment for me.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Your sport's been accepted onto the program for the first
time at the LA Paralympic Games in twenty twenty eight.
Is that a big, big carrot for you, a big motivator.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yes, for sure. You know it's hard that are sweet
because it is the first time that we're in the Paralympics,
and as such it will be a smaller event. So
this means that not all of our categories that currently
compete on the international stage are going to be seen
at the LA twenty twenty Paralympics. Fortunately, my caategory is one,
(09:37):
so I do have the opportunity, but I'm very mindful
that as much of it as an opportunity for me,
it's also an opportunity to showcase our sport and to
do such a good job of that that all of
our categories are introduced for the following Paralympics in twenty
thirty two, and then we get our whole way that
adaptive family there, so we're all very happy to be
(10:02):
I guess there's a lot of joy in it, but
a lot of responsibility as well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
How much of climbing is about problem solving.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
All of it? Yeah, we So it's an interesting sport.
You know, when you're swimming, you're running, you're swimming the
same pool. When you're rowing, you're rowing the same length,
and the conditions might be different. Again, like there's many
sports where with the route or the thing that you're
doing is repetitive and it's the same, but in climbing,
(10:31):
it's completely different. Every time we actually, if we're in finals,
we're actually locked in a stadium room out the back.
We're locked there for up to it could be six hours,
no bluetooth, no cell phone, no devices that could connect
us to the outside world. And during that time, the
problem that we'll climb has put up on the wall,
so we've never seen it the floor, we've never touched it.
They'll give us a six minute viewing period where we
(10:53):
can go and look at it, and then you look
locked back and you're room out the back where you're
trying to time your warm up for this imaginary stat
point that sort of shifts. People move quickly or slowly
through the route, and then you're brought out and you're
given this one time with six minutes to climb this road.
As soon as you fall off, it's all over. So
you're going to the highest point you can reach. And
each hold is one point and then positive direction towards
(11:16):
the next hole that half a point and it can
come down to half a point.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Incredible. And so is there a top, like, can you
do you typically reach the top?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
There is a top? Yes, I think the route that
is a you know, there's a lot of responsibility to
make these dynamic and exciting and fun challenging, and then
also to see some tops, but not too many tops.
Want the whole field topping or you kind of.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
It must be be too easy. Yeah, fas too easy.
Everyone's reaching the top. It must be too easy.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I've had I've definitely had some tops. Actually, my
very first World Championship, very first international competition, I topped
my first climb and I got to the top of
it and was like, oh, I'm actually okay at this.
I did not expect that, And then I ended up
qualifying for finals, which was the first for New Zealand.
Athletes and able disabled climbing and male or female. That's
(12:09):
like a little piece of history I get to keep
for our country forever. And I remember just sitting there
looking at the list of four athletes through the finals
and my name was on it. I was like, is there, Like,
will an official come and tell me? How do I
know I'm allowed in the final warm month zone? What
do I do now?
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Like?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
I just haven't planned for it at all. So, yeah,
the top are pretty epic. That's what we're all going for.
There's a lot of joy in that. But there's also
just a lot of joy in being in the moment
and you know, trying to really, I guess, like take
advantage of that clim that's been put up there for us,
because as adapt to climbers, we're not getting that. In gyms,
often you go into a gym and the roots of
(12:46):
sets for people with two leaves or two arms or
a fully functioning body, and so you can come up
against blockermovs you like, yep, well I wanted not going
to work. So when we're competing, these routes are set
specifically for women with that legs or specifically for men
who aren't able to see or you know, all the
different categories they set specifically for us, and it is
(13:07):
such a joy to crime on those problems.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Do you ever think back and wonder what might what
your life might be like if they hadn't du taped
up that thing back in when you were sixteen?
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I do. I don't allow myself to certain it too often,
and maybe I'll get emotional. And it's actually, ironically not
for the reason you might think. I am so grateful
for somebody else's mistake, because the person that I've become
and the pathways it's created for me, and the resilience
(13:42):
that it's developed in me that I now get to like.
I mean, I educate in this. This is something that
I do like part time on the side is public
speaking and resilience, and I make these connections for people
who will come up to me later and say, look,
you've like you've altered the path of my life. And
that's deep. I never expected to be able to have
(14:03):
that much impact in the world, but it gives me
much light to be able to do that. And yes,
I love in an extreme amount of pain, but I
also get to love a life of impact, and I
just wouldn't have it any other way. And I've definitely
looked back and thought, you know, what would it be
like if that hadn't happened? And I can't imagine it.
I can't. There's nothing like I if I ask myself
(14:26):
that question. There's just this blank, MD void in front
of me, and it's not full of light in sunshine.
And yes, what I do have in front of me
is difficult, but it is full of so much light
and sunshine. I think I feel that brightness so much
more because of all the doubt stuff as well.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Impacting others is an absolute superpower, it really is, and
obviously you are doing it regularly along with your supreme
climbing ability. Rachel has been such a delight to chat
to you. I can't wait to see how you go
in Seoul. Thank you for being so open and so
generous with your time this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Thanks so much, Jason Cha no.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Thank you. Rachel May there off to compete in the
A Climbing World Championships in Soul Career late next month.
What a story now she get is completely unfunded. There's
no funding available to her to compete in this competition
or any competition as such. She is running a give
(15:25):
a little page to help raise some money to fund
her trip to the World Champs. So give a little
dot co dot MZ, just search for Rachel Meyer. The
surname is m Aia and you'll find the details there
of climbing with Purpose. So yeah, if you are in
the position to help out in any way, that would
(15:46):
be much appreciated. One of the more inspirational guests we've
had on the show for quite some time.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalks edb keep We.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Rachel Meyer will compete in the Power Climbing World championshipston
Soul Career in late September. Hers is quite the story
which we're about to get some insight into Rachel Myer's
with us. Rachel, can we take it back? Tell us
about the injury you sustained when you were sixteen years
(00:33):
of age.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Well, I tell the children, imagine make my vegetables in
my leg fell off. Love it, which I'm pretty sure
he's still off. Another adaptive athlete's actually the parents love it.
I had a climbing excellent when I was sixteen. It
was actually a very controlled, technically safe drop and a
bouldering facility. I had a spotter. I felt like the
(00:57):
last move that I could have done to get to
the walk off would have been a bit unhinged. I
was pretty tired, so I did a very controlled full.
Unfortunately went through a little margin where the facility of
Dutch takes Chris back together, so it didn't really work
out too well for me. I had bone grafts from
my hip into one ankle, along with a lot of
(01:18):
metal wear, and it also broke the other one and
then went on to have eighteen, well more now years
of disability and mobility challenges and pain.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
So you didn't have you amputation came later, didn't it.
You went through multiple attempts to repair it. Is that right?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
Yeah? I had ten surgeries before the amputation, which was
actually elective, and the last surgery before the amputation was
an experimental one where the surgeon looked at me anysic look,
I've got to be honest, I've only done this once
before and it didn't work, and you're going to need
to be pretty resilient. And they showed me a picture
of what they were going to do, and it was
this massive metal expit frame where they drilled into the
(02:00):
shin and the foot and wires and rods hanging out
of the leg and the foot, and then they gave
you a pair of spanners and you have to slowly
wine your ankle apart yourself over a period of time.
And that frame stayed on for four months, during which
time I was parenting, you know, three kids, one of
them with a disability herself very high needs, and one
of them still preschool age, and I would crouch into
(02:22):
kindy with this big exit frame on my leg, and
all these three four year olds will be tugging on
their mum's leaves saying, look, look, that lady's a transformer.
So it was pretty hectic, and that was like the
last attempts to stay this leg that had just given
me a lifetime, you know, my entire adult life of pain,
(02:42):
and I wasn't going anywhere with it. So I just
decided to fight for change.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So you opted for below the knee amputation on that stage.
Was it a relatively straightforward decision or did you think yourself,
hang on, I'm going to take half my leg off here.
I'm making a decision to get rid of half of
my leg here.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
No. I was all in by that point. I was
competing as a para athlete unable to use the leg,
and I'd created this life for myself where I knew
worst case scenario if I had issues with the amputation
or I didn't get mobile on a prosthetic. I had
this thing that gave me joy and gave me purpose
in my climbing, and I had community and connections who
(03:23):
were able to help me through it. And it really
is just such a testament to you know, the words
fano and the wider sense of family and the people
around me that had carried me. And it's for sure
I've put some gritin, resilience in and thought to recreate
my own life, but I've also been carried thereby so
many people, and yeah, I was all.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
In, can you just clarify? So do you climb with
a prosthetic leg or not?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
That is an excellent question. I have competed more often
without a prosthetic than but that's been due to ongoing
challenges with my stump. I did end up with some
really difficult challenges with my residulum that involved another amputation
into twenty two on the same leg, I lost more
(04:08):
of it and so as it's worked out, most of
my comps have been without a prosthetic. But this year
I'm back on a climbing leg and I'm really enjoying that.
It's a different style. Our category of Wahini who compete
in the lower limb field, we all have varying degree
of limb loss, so it's all we're almosting one leg,
(04:29):
but it could be left or right, it could be
above or below the knee, and we may or may
not use a prosthetic and it's really against us in
the wall. You know, how we adapt to our difference
and what creative solutions we come up with in the
moment to like problem solve the route that I've given
us that we've never seen this form, I've never climbed,
and we've got this one chance to shine. So yeah,
(04:51):
it's a bit of both. And I'm really looking forward
to this year to being back out there with the
prosthetic and a May twenty twenty five or first World Cup.
This year I was on a prosthetic and canily with
the bronze, which was very exciting.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
Indeed, I saw that, so obviously it's that that bodes
well for career. So I'm just trying to get my
head round there. So before you had the amputation, you
were still power climbing, but in a different class, is
that right?
Speaker 3 (05:18):
That's crazy. I compared for one season and just one
competition actually and the reduced power for impaired range of
power category, And yeah, that was my introduction to climbing
on the international stage as a para athlete. And it
was actually the event where I was able to meet
(05:38):
a lot of amputees and talk to them and get
to know their story and the potential potential and possibilities
if I chose amputation of a pathway and I went
home from that competition and after the elective surgery.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Did the amputation stop the pain?
Speaker 3 (05:59):
It stopped the pain from the damage I was living with.
But unfortunately, because they'd had ten surgeries previously, I was
high risk of neurological pain from severing those nerves, and
I now live with chronic chronic nerve pain. So at
the moment, because we're speaking, I'm probably sitting on like
a seven out of ten paint. So it feels like
(06:20):
I don't know if you've vapped yourself with an electric sense,
but well, it feels like an electric sense, but instead
of being like just a zap, it's non stop. It
just it never stopped.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
Well, I touched an electric fence once, but it was
for about half a second. So I get in a
seven out of Is that where you where you live?
Day to day? At a seven out of ten.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Day to day seven? But like throughout the day that
we'll like escalate to a ten, and you know, evenings
in particular in that time, I won't sleep unless I've
had a stative. It just doesn't stop. It's just always there.
It's it's part of my journey now and I've just
learned so like trying to turn the volume up on
joy is like I guess, medicine to the soul and
the body, and that for climbing comes in. When I'm climbing,
(07:04):
the pain's still there, but it's quieter, and I've like
I've found a way to move and to feel free
and to feel live. And I guess like I'm also
pretty scared of heights, So lots of adrenaline and that
helps manage pain, and I feel like I have perfect
in it and maybe get to live a life with
impact for others. So, yeah, did you.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Say you were scared of as? Did you say you
were scared of heights?
Speaker 3 (07:28):
Scared of heights of public speaking? Wow?
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Here we are, I know exactly amazing. You want Brawnz
At the twenty twenty Free World Champs tell us.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
About that, say, Will Champs was really challenging to me.
I actually had a very difficult situation with my daughter
who's heigh needs a month or two before the event,
and I ended up with a concussion and injury. Parenting
a special needs teenager on your hands and knees or
encrutches or wheelchairs. Just it's hard. And so I actually
(07:59):
took a big rest before that event, and the morning
I meant to fly out, I was lying on the
couch going yet not going to go, Like my heart's
I'm going to fail, it's not worth it. And a
friend came over and she literally packed my bag and
packed me out and put me on the plane. And
when I got there, I realized, you know, I just
it really sent home to me again how important it
(08:19):
is to do something for ourselves in a month's the
hard things. And family is important, but our own identity
is important too. So I just decided to go out
there and give it how and be in the moment.
I wasn't wearing a prosthetic, I couldn't walk, and I
came away with a bronze And yeah, I wear a
lot of emotion, and my heart's on my sleeve all
the time. And I think that just like shows how
(08:42):
important it is to me to be able to like
honor and reflect and be grounded and like the power
we have in ourselves to recreate our lives and to
find our identity and amongst all those other labels that
we carry, some of them good like mother, sister, friend,
all of those things, but also other labels that perhaps
we put on ourselves or other people give to us
(09:04):
then are more negative. And yeah, it was a really
great moment for me.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Your sport's been accepted onto the program for the first
time at the LA Paralympic Games in twenty twenty eight.
Is that a big, big carrot for you, a big motivator.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
Yes, for sure. You know it's hard that are sweet
because it is the first time that we're in the Paralympics,
and as such it will be a smaller event. So
this means that not all of our categories that currently
compete on the international stage are going to be seen
at the LA twenty twenty Paralympics. Fortunately, my caategory is one,
(09:37):
so I do have the opportunity, but I'm very mindful
that as much of it as an opportunity for me,
it's also an opportunity to showcase our sport and to
do such a good job of that that all of
our categories are introduced for the following Paralympics in twenty
thirty two, and then we get our whole way that
adaptive family there, so we're all very happy to be
(10:02):
I guess there's a lot of joy in it, but
a lot of responsibility as well.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
How much of climbing is about problem solving.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
All of it? Yeah, we So it's an interesting sport.
You know, when you're swimming, you're running, you're swimming the
same pool. When you're rowing, you're rowing the same length,
and the conditions might be different. Again, like there's many
sports where with the route or the thing that you're
doing is repetitive and it's the same, but in climbing,
(10:31):
it's completely different. Every time we actually, if we're in finals,
we're actually locked in a stadium room out the back.
We're locked there for up to it could be six hours,
no bluetooth, no cell phone, no devices that could connect
us to the outside world. And during that time, the
problem that we'll climb has put up on the wall,
so we've never seen it the floor, we've never touched it.
They'll give us a six minute viewing period where we
(10:53):
can go and look at it, and then you look
locked back and you're room out the back where you're
trying to time your warm up for this imaginary stat
point that sort of shifts. People move quickly or slowly
through the route, and then you're brought out and you're
given this one time with six minutes to climb this road.
As soon as you fall off, it's all over. So
you're going to the highest point you can reach. And
each hold is one point and then positive direction towards
(11:16):
the next hole that half a point and it can
come down to half a point.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
Incredible. And so is there a top, like, can you
do you typically reach the top?
Speaker 3 (11:26):
There is a top? Yes, I think the route that
is a you know, there's a lot of responsibility to
make these dynamic and exciting and fun challenging, and then
also to see some tops, but not too many tops.
Want the whole field topping or you kind of.
Speaker 2 (11:43):
It must be be too easy. Yeah, fas too easy.
Everyone's reaching the top. It must be too easy.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I've had I've definitely had some tops. Actually, my
very first World Championship, very first international competition, I topped
my first climb and I got to the top of
it and was like, oh, I'm actually okay at this.
I did not expect that, And then I ended up
qualifying for finals, which was the first for New Zealand.
Athletes and able disabled climbing and male or female. That's
(12:09):
like a little piece of history I get to keep
for our country forever. And I remember just sitting there
looking at the list of four athletes through the finals
and my name was on it. I was like, is there, Like,
will an official come and tell me? How do I
know I'm allowed in the final warm month zone? What
do I do now?
Speaker 2 (12:24):
Like?
Speaker 3 (12:24):
I just haven't planned for it at all. So, yeah,
the top are pretty epic. That's what we're all going for.
There's a lot of joy in that. But there's also
just a lot of joy in being in the moment
and you know, trying to really, I guess, like take
advantage of that clim that's been put up there for us,
because as adapt to climbers, we're not getting that. In gyms,
often you go into a gym and the roots of
(12:46):
sets for people with two leaves or two arms or
a fully functioning body, and so you can come up
against blockermovs you like, yep, well I wanted not going
to work. So when we're competing, these routes are set
specifically for women with that legs or specifically for men
who aren't able to see or you know, all the
different categories they set specifically for us, and it is
(13:07):
such a joy to crime on those problems.
Speaker 2 (13:10):
Do you ever think back and wonder what might what
your life might be like if they hadn't du taped
up that thing back in when you were sixteen?
Speaker 3 (13:20):
I do. I don't allow myself to certain it too often,
and maybe I'll get emotional. And it's actually, ironically not
for the reason you might think. I am so grateful
for somebody else's mistake, because the person that I've become
and the pathways it's created for me, and the resilience
(13:42):
that it's developed in me that I now get to like.
I mean, I educate in this. This is something that
I do like part time on the side is public
speaking and resilience, and I make these connections for people
who will come up to me later and say, look,
you've like you've altered the path of my life. And
that's deep. I never expected to be able to have
(14:03):
that much impact in the world, but it gives me
much light to be able to do that. And yes,
I love in an extreme amount of pain, but I
also get to love a life of impact, and I
just wouldn't have it any other way. And I've definitely
looked back and thought, you know, what would it be
like if that hadn't happened? And I can't imagine it.
I can't. There's nothing like I if I ask myself
(14:26):
that question. There's just this blank, MD void in front
of me, and it's not full of light in sunshine.
And yes, what I do have in front of me
is difficult, but it is full of so much light
and sunshine. I think I feel that brightness so much
more because of all the doubt stuff as well.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Impacting others is an absolute superpower, it really is, and
obviously you are doing it regularly along with your supreme
climbing ability. Rachel has been such a delight to chat
to you. I can't wait to see how you go
in Seoul. Thank you for being so open and so
generous with your time this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (15:01):
Thanks so much, Jason Cha no.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
Thank you. Rachel May there off to compete in the
A Climbing World Championships in Soul Career late next month.
What a story now she get is completely unfunded. There's
no funding available to her to compete in this competition
or any competition as such. She is running a give
(15:25):
a little page to help raise some money to fund
her trip to the World Champs. So give a little
dot co dot MZ, just search for Rachel Meyer. The
surname is m Aia and you'll find the details there
of climbing with Purpose. So yeah, if you are in
the position to help out in any way, that would
(15:46):
be much appreciated. One of the more inspirational guests we've
had on the show for quite some time.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to News Talk zed B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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