From AAPS
Olympian speed climber Zach Hammer already has other things on his mind just days after his return from the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After all, classes start next week at the University of Utah, where he’ll be a freshman majoring in Environmental Science.
“The Olympic journey has been extremely long and tiring, and so I am excited to get back into my routine of school and training,” says Zach, who will continue to train fulltime.
The 2024 graduate of Skyline High School began climbing when he was three, competed at the Youth National Championships when he was nine, and qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after competing in the Olympic Qualifier series in Budapest.
One of the best speed climbers in the world, Zach’s Personal Best time was 5.12 seconds set at the 2024 National Team Trials.
We asked Zach a few questions about his recent Adventure of a Lifetime:
How did the entire experience differ from what you may have expected?
The whole Olympic experience was crazy and one to remember. Sport Climbing is still a relatively small sport, so even our biggest competitions, like world championships, are nowhere near the scale of this event. The closing and opening ceremonies were unbelievable to be a part of and made me realize that I was part of something bigger than myself and even bigger than athletics.
What was the highlight of your time in Paris?
The USA climbing team arrived in Paris on July 24th for the opening ceremony and welcome experience. We then went to Barcelona, Spain, for about a week to train and focus outside the games’ craziness. Finally, we returned to Paris for the competition, arriving on August 1st and leaving on the 12th after the closing ceremony. For me, the whole trip’s highlight was the opening and closing ceremonies. They were so grand and spectacular to be a part of.
Did you stay in the Olympic Village? What was that like?
I stayed in the village for my whole time in Paris, and it was a great experience. Getting to meet so many incredible athletes and really embrace the Olympic experience definitely made the village worth it. In my opinion, some of the things like the food and beds that people have complained about were totally fine to me.
Just before you competed, you seemed so happy and relaxed. Were you nervous?
So this is something that is definitely unique about me, but I know that I climb best when I am relaxed and having fun. At every competition I go to, I try to keep that mindset. It definitely wasn’t easy at first, but I have gotten a lot better at simply embracing the moment and enjoying the competition experience for what it is.
Will you be back in four years?
I definitely plan to be back at the Olympics in L.A. with the home crowd. I am only 18, and in Paris, there was an athlete in speed climbing who was 39, which proves that I have a lot of time. I am more driven than ever and can not wait to return to training. I have a lot of goals both for the Olympics in four years and for the IFSC World Cups and World Championships. I am nowhere near finished with this sport, and you will definitely keep seeing me progress and smiling on stage.
Any advice for others who are inspired to become speed climbers?
I think the most important piece of advice from me is to climb a lot and have fun. Other training techniques are less important in the beginning. Making sure that you are having fun is important because if you aren’t enjoying training, you won’t make it very far. Lastly, watch a lot of videos of other speed climbers (both professional and close to your speed) to learn about the sport and improve your technique.
