Jesse Grupper reacts after climbing in the men's bouldering event during the 2022 IFSC Climbing World Cup on May 28, 2022 in Salt Lake City.
Athletes can experience breakthroughs at unexpected times. Take competitive climber Jesse Grupper, who had his during the 2022 world cup season.
Grupper, 26, had set a goal of earning one medal during the climbing campaign. Instead, he ascended a total of four podiums, including a pair of gold medals. Overall, he finished third in men’s lead and fifth in men’s bouldering & lead among the world’s climbers.
“It definitely felt like a breakout year,” Grupper said. “It felt like something just clicked within this long journey.
“I’ve been doing this sport for over 14 years, and the 15th year was the year that it all kind of came together, and I was able to really show myself on that stage. It was pretty cool to be able to have those pieces come together.”
Grupper discovered the sport at age six when older sister Maddy began taking climbing lessons.
“I had a ton of energy as a kid,” he said. “I started competing when I was like nine or 10. I guess I haven’t really stopped since.”
Currently, Grupper is competing in the 2023 world cup season, which began April 21-23 with a bouldering event in Hachioji, Japan.
“Pretty exciting to kick off the season there,” Grupper said. “I’m predominantly a lead climber. So, it’s been really interesting and fun for me to switch gears and kind of get into this bouldering shape. The (USA Climbing) training center has been a huge help in that journey.
“It’s cool to feel like an expert in a sport for so long and then still have so much to learn within it. I’m enjoying the ride, and I feel like I’m making steady progress.”
Grupper, from Upper Montclair, New Jersey, is just happy to be healthy after beginning this year with a knee injury and a bout with COVID-19.
“I was just climbing in the gym, like a normal session, and I just did kind of a regular hook move that I had done several times before,” said Grupper, “and I just heard a pop, came down and couldn’t use my leg like I normally do.”
He was diagnosed with a grade 2 lateral collateral ligament sprain. Two weeks later, COVID-19 hit, and he was bed-ridden for a few days.
