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Sasha DiGiulian          

Professional Rock Climber, Speaker & Writer

Sasha DiGiulian took the rock climbing world by storm at an early age and has grown into one of the sport's most famous faces - traveling the world and completing over 30 first female ascents. DiGiulian first began climbing at 6 years old, in 1998. She has won the World Championships for Female Overall twice, and has placed Silver in the Bouldering World Championships, as well as Bronze in the Duel. DiGiulian was the undefeated panAmerican Champion 2004 to 2014, and she is a three-time US National Champion.

Outdoors, DiGiulian is the first North American woman to climb the grade 9a, 5.14d, recognized as one of the hardest sport climbs achieved by a female at the time. DiGiulian was the third woman in the world to accomplish this grade. She has accomplished multiple first ascents and over 30 first female ascents around the world, including a first female ascent on the North Face of the Eiger.

DiGiulian has met much resistance from other climbers because of her gender. After completing the first female ascent of the north face of the Eiger, a male climber told her "little girls don't belong on the Eiger". She is using her platform to encourage people of all genders, races, and backgrounds to start climbing. She's led all-women climbing teams across the world, written extensively about being a female in a predominantly male sport and wants to be a role model for young girls looking to explore the outdoors.

DiGiulian graduated from Columbia University in New York City, having studied Nonfiction Writing and Business. She is on the Board of the Women's Sports Foundation and serves as a Global Athlete Ambassador for Right to Play, Up2Us Sports, and the American Alpine Club. She also has served as an Athlete Representative on the board of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. She has been the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including GLAMOUR Magazine's Top College Women of the Year, 2016, the Cutting Edge Athlete Award for 2014 performance, presented by the American Alpine Club, The Golden Piton Award, and the Arco Rock Legend Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Outdoors.

In addition to climbing, DiGiulian has a column with Outside Magazine and has been a published writer by other publications, including National Geographic, Rock and Ice, SELF, Seventeen, and CRAVE.

News


Sasha Digiulian on Tackling Fear and Uncertainty | Podcast Episode
Fellow female athlete Sasha Digiulian discusses living life on the edge, literally. Digiulian is a world champion rock climber and is the first woman to climb grade 9a. The 28-year-old has always navigated through life taking risks, and discusses how to separate real and irrational fears.
Sasha DiGiulian on Accepting Her Body
As a woman in climbing, I occupy two worlds: one defined by strength and grit, the other by beauty and traditional ideas of femininity. It’s something I still struggle with.
Sasha DiGiulian Explains Why We Don’t Climb Hard Enough
American climbers as a group, she wrote, don’t climb nearly as hard as Europeans. The news was bitter broth.
Sasha DiGiulian: US climber wants more women in climbing after ...
Trailblazing climber Sasha DiGiulian was told 'little girls don't belong.' She didn't listen. By Ben Church, CNN. Updated 1054 GMT (1854 HKT) October 28, 2020.

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