The only way is up for Zhao
Fifteen-year-old climbing prodigy looks set to scale the heights of his sport
However, the view, much like Zhao's meteoric rise, remains unofficial. The trial event for China's national team on March 26 was not sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), leaving his times unrecognized.
Zhao's journey from a bookish Suzhou schoolboy to "spiderman" began with a playdate gone vertical. At age five, a friend dragged him to a climbing gym, and what started as weekly hobby sessions soon consumed his weekends. By nine, he was podium-hopping at regional youth events.
"When I was younger, there weren't many rivals. I was always the fastest," Zhao recalled of his early competitions. "Yet, being the fastest didn't always mean winning. My mindset wasn't sharp enough back then. But, losing taught me more than winning."
The real crossroads came at 13.
A top student at Suzhou's elite Mudu School, Zhao faced a choice between academics and athletics after winning the 2023 IFSC Youth World Championships in Seoul.
