Sasha DiGulian American rock climber Date of Birth: 23.10.1992 Country: USA

1. American rock climber Sasha DiGiulian
2. Academic and climbing success
3. Recognition and current endeavors

American rock climber Sasha DiGiulian

Sasha DiGiulian is an American rock climber who made history in 2012 by becoming the first American woman to conquer a 9a difficulty level climb (5.14d on the American scale). She developed a passion for rock climbing at a young age, starting at the age of 7. By the age of 9, she was participating in alpine competitions, and at 11, she completed her first 5.13 climb.

Academic and climbing success

It is interesting to note that DiGiulian's impressive achievements in the sport did not hinder her academic pursuits. She excelled both in her unusual hobby and in her schoolwork. Just before finishing high school, DiGiulian conquered two 5.14c peaks in Red River Gorge, Kentucky.

After graduating from high school, DiGiulian embarked on a year of travel and exploration. During this time, she competed in several challenging international climbing competitions and tested her skills on foreign peaks. In October 2011, she returned to Red River Gorge and broke her personal record by completing a 5.14d route. However, in November 2012, the route's difficulty was reevaluated, resulting in a lower rating. Nevertheless, this did not discourage DiGiulian, as she had already set a new record. On April 25, 2012, she successfully completed a 9a difficulty route. She became the first American woman to conquer such a challenging route and joined the ranks of only two other women in the history of mountaineering to achieve this feat – Josune Bereziartu from Spain and Charlotte Durif from France.

Recognition and current endeavors

In September 2012, DiGiulian received the prestigious Arco Rock Legend Award in Italy. She also had the opportunity to participate in another major competition. Unfortunately, an old injury resurfaced, preventing her from competing in the tournament's final and causing her to miss several important competitions. However, DiGiulian has since recovered and is ready to continue competing.

Currently, Sasha DiGiulian resides in Manhattan, where she is studying entrepreneurship and marketing at Columbia University. She also gives motivational speeches periodically, inspiring others with her achievements and passion for rock climbing.