She is an absolutely exceptional talent. Since she was young, she has been delighting the masses with her energetic charisma and even more with her fascinating climbing skills, Janja Garnbret.
THE GOLDEN GIRL: JANJA GARNBRET
When Janja climbs the walls, it almost seems like the laws of gravity and physics do not apply to her. No other climbs so creatively, powerfully, and safely up even the most difficult courses.
Janja Garnbret is not only concerned with defeating her opponents. Rather, she always wants to aim high and reach the top. What seems impossible even for experienced climbers, Janja Garnbret manages almost effortlessly in most cases.
So, it probably came as no surprise to anyone last week that the young Slovenian won the gold medal in the Women’s Lead Final on August 13th. Certainly, it wasn’t any surprise for most sports fans and pros that Janja Garnbret won the Women’s Boulder Final on August 14th. The fans finally went wild when she also won the Combinations on August 17th. The 23-year-old said:
Being three-times European champion sounds good, but it feels even better. When I look at my cabinet and medals I’m like ‘Whoa, when did this happen?’ because time flies as I’m competing so much and sometimes you have to stop and realise what you have achieved because it is incredible.
THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS 2022 IN MUNICH
Many people dream of success. However, the European Championships 2022 in Munich impressively proved two essential things.
First, the event underlined the importance of showing the utmost respect to all athletes. The people of Munich and their guests have set a milestone here.
Because never before have athletic competitions been so well attended and celebrated as during the ten days in August.
The great atmosphere, acceptance, and perfect organization made the athletes happy and drove them to top performances.
If we compare them to those sports where the really big money is flowing, maybe we should start to pay much more attention to those athletes who are honest, and passionate and do their sports with heart and soul, and an extreme willingness to sacrifice.
Seldom before the Olympic stadium shown more exciting sportive action and emotional moments than during the competitions in the days of August 2022.
JANJA GARNBRET MOVES MOUNTAINS
Secondly, these competitions also showed that anyone can achieve the almost impossible. However, you must believe in yourself. Of course, behind Janja Garnebret’s great successes, there is also an incredible amount of hardship, endless training sessions, and a lot of pain.
This doesn’t just mean injuries that one inevitably gets in sports like climbing. Moreover, what is meant is the psychological, mental pressure that arises when you suddenly play the role of favorite. Because with success comes responsibility. And so, no matter where Janja Garnbret performs, the fans expect her to win.
It seems that the young Slovenian can handle it well. However, she also had to practice this. In Munich, she showed again that she mastered even this training successfully.
This is also important because it is well known that the competition never sleeps. In Munich, there was also a medal for French youngster Oriane Bertone. She narrowly missed out on silver to Hannah Meul. However, Bertone was happy to have secured a bronze medal. The 17 year old, said:
It feels really great to be able to say ‘okay, I’m good enough to win bronze and I feel like I was good enough to win silver’. I don’t know if gold would have been doable, but I want to win gold so I’m going to go back to training and keep that in mind.
JANJA CLIMBS ON THE HIGHEST CHIMNEY
Anyone climbing a boulder wall for the first time knows how much courage it takes. The older you get, the more inner struggles you have to fight out within yourself. It’s good if one starts the sport at such a young age, like Janja Garnbret.
As a 6-year-old, she climbed onto her parents’ cupboards. Janja loves and lives her sport with heart and soul and in every minute. Even in her less free time, she likes to climb. Therefore, she climbed the highest chimney in Europe a year ago. What a mighty adventure. After all, this chimney in Slovenia is 360 meters high.
In Munich, Janja Garnbret proved why she is considered one of the greatest competitive climbers of all time. She showed she was a class above in the bouldering. She reached the top on two occasions and also made zone two on her opening climb. No matter where we may experience them in the future, it is always a celebration of grace, power, and joy.
Text: Marco Kokkot
Images: © Red Bull
