Sputnik - About 200 women annually take part in rock climbing competitions in Iran. Elnaz Rekabi is an Iranian climber who has achieved remarkable success and has risen to international fame. She noted that climbing is a unique sport, which develops not only physical strength, but also fortitude, and both of these factors are equally important for victory.
"At first glance, climbing seems tobe very tough and hard sport, butwhen you begin toengage init and get toknow it closer, you understand that a woman body type is not an impediment, buton the contrary it helps topass the route more successfully and learn the secret ofthis sport. That's why women all overthe world engage inrock climbing equally withmen and even can compete withthem onthe same level. Gender is not very important incompetitive climbing. Moreover, female climbing technique is so interesting that the audience sometimes prefer watching a women's competition more thana men's one," Elnaz told Sputnik.
Elnaz said that she became interested inclimbing inher youth when her brother had become an Asian vice champion incompetitive climbing ata competition inZanjan, a city innorthwestern Iran. She began toclimb in2001 and she has been the champion ofIran inlead climbing (when you need toreach the top ofthe rock withina certain time), bouldering (climbing onroutes upto 6 meters and onextremely difficult routes withunbelievable inclinations) and speed climbing foralready 15 years. Elnaz has won 84 medals: eight gold medals, including a gold medal atthe Adidas Rockstars boulder competition inStuttgart, a golden medal atthe Asian Rock Climbing Cup, a silver medal inbouldering atthe Asia Climbing Championship, a silver medal atthe Asia Climbing Championship inIran and a bronze medal inlead climbing atthe Asian Sport Climbing Championship inIndonesia.
According toRekabi there has been a breakthrough inthe development ofcompetitive climbing overthe last few year. Reza Alipour, a record-breaker inspeed climbing, and the bouldering team were the most successful. Female climbers also show good results, winning medals atdifferent junior and adult competitions.
At the same time, Elnaz spoke aboutthe difficulties that Iranian sportsmen are faced with. One ofthe problems is lack ofnecessary financial support. Elnaz and other sportsmen who represent the national team pay themselves toparticipate inthe World Cup.
"Lack offinancing is one ofthe reasons why we miss many international tournaments. As forme, I have no problem incompeting forthe last two years because Zarin Iran Porcelain and DWX have become my sponsors provide [me] withsport equipment. But it's a pity that sponsor support has come just now. If that had happened earlier I could have done much more!" Rekabi complained.
Along withcompeting, Elnaz works asa couch and has been training the junior climbing team foralready two years. She loves her young athletes; she is proud oftheir success and hopes that they fulfill their dreams ofbecoming world champions. Rekabi noted the role ofthe Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation, which has organized a special program forthe development ofthis sport, inwhich competitions forchildren aged 7-8 years are held.
Elnaz has big plans forthe future: She will take part inthe 2018 Asian Games inJakarta and hopes that she will manage toget a license toparticipate inthe 2020 Olympic Games. She is currently training toimprove her performance and achieve good results atthese important competitions.
