Climbing is poised to become one of the next Olympic sports, and North Texans are among those anxiously awaiting the International Olympic Committee's decision.
"I always wanted to be in the Olympics when I was younger but I thought it would be in gymnastics or something like that," said Grace McKeehan, of Frisco, the current Youth World Champion in climbing. "So I think it would be amazing."
The IOC is expected to vote this week to include climbing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, along with baseball-softball, karate, surfing and skateboarding.
"It would be cool for climbing to be taken as seriously as a bunch of other sports, because I see its potential," McKeehan said.
McKeehan, 17, trains with Lone Star Climbing at Frisco's Canyons Climbing Gym, which is owned and operated by her parents.
"Japan has got a huge climbing contingent," said Grace's father, Mark McKeehan. "Climbing has always been huge internationally, now it's becoming huge in the U.S."
Several North Texas climbers who train with Lone Star Climbing now have their sights set on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Japan.
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"I've been climbing in competitions for so many years," said seven-time national champion John Brosler. "But the Olympics are a whole new thing, and I'd be honored and humbled to be a part of the U.S. team competing in Tokyo."
"It's just like that next level that climbing has never been able to be part of before," Brosler said.
"It is probably the most athletic type of sport," said Lone Star Climbing head coach Kim Puccio. "You're using every single muscle in your body."
Climbers normally compete in just one or two disciplines, but at the Olympics, would have to excel in all three – bouldering, sport and speed.
"So now we have to get them to like every aspect of the sport," Puccio said.
The IOC's decision is expected Wednesday.
