“THE MOUNTING MACHINE: ADAM ONDRA”

“I believe climbing is in our genetic code. We somehow want

to go higher to see the world from above”
-Adam Ondra (The Bubka and Bolt of the new Olympic
sport)

The six-footer, 29-year-old climbing sensation, Adam Ondra is a

professional rock climber, who was born on February 5, 1993,
to parents Eva Ondrova and Miroslav Ondra. From growing up
in Brno, Czech Republic, to winning the World Championships,
Ondra has come a long way. Adam Ondra’s parents are both
climbers who would travel, camp, and climb all around Europe
along with Adam and his sister Kristyna Ondra. Seeing his
parents climbing, gained the interest of the young Adam and
this is from where he gained the motivation of becoming a
climber. Ondra is specialized in lead climbing and bouldering.
With more than 25 years of experience, he is crushing records
and accomplishing feats that no other climber has yet
accomplished.

CLIMBING LEVELS:
Mountain climbing consists of a climb that is more than 30 feet
(or 360 inches) in height. In addition to heights, mountain
climbing also requires equipment or gears such as climbing
ropes, harnesses, carabiners, belay devices, etcetera to make
sure you don’t fall and hit the ground. A fall while climbing a
mountain can be fatal.

The levels of mountain climbing are classified based on the

hardness of the climb, usage of rope, steepness, handholds,
footholds, the angle of the climb, and various other factors. The
levels of mountain climbing are measured on a scale of 1 to 5,
with 1 being the easiest and 5 being the toughest climb.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

It would be a disrespect to ‘THE ADAM ONDRA’ not to talk

about his achievements. Ondra started climbing when he was
about 6 years old and his talent became transparent very soon.

 In 2001, at an early age of only 8 years, he onsighted his

first 7b+ (5.12c) routes.
 In 2002, at the age of 9, he onsighted 7c+ (5.13a) and
redpointed 8a (5.13b) routes.
  In 2003, at the age of ten, he onsighted the 8a (5.13b)
route.
 In 2004, at the age of eleven, he onsighted 8a+ (5.13c) and
redpointed 8c (5.14b) routes.
 In 2005, at the age of twelve, he onsighted the 8b (5.13d)
route.
 In 2006, at the age of thirteen, he managed to redpoint his
first 9a (5.14d) route, Martin Krpan at Misja Pec.

With Silence (Norway)- 9c (5.16d) route, Change (Norway)-

9b+(5.15c) route, Super Crackinette (France)- 9a+(5.15a) route,
and Dawn Wall (California)- 9a (5.14d) route being his greatest
climbs till date.

Adam Ondra in addition to being a good rock climber is a

fantastic boulder climber as well. Bouldering is also rock
climbing which has a maximum height of 15 feet (or 180
inches). Therefore, no equipment or gears are required to scale
boulders. People climb them without the help of any ropes.
Instead, there is a soft mat placed below to cushion the landing
in case a climber falls off.

Ondra has quite a lot of achievements in bouldering too:

• Nunavut (V15), Sloup Cave, Czechia (2019)
• Pučmeloun (V15), Sloup Cave, Czechia (2019)
• Ledoborec (V16) Holštejn, Czechia (2020)
• Brutal Rider (V16) Sloup Cave, Czechia (2020)

AWARDS:

Adam Ondra won his first World Championships medal in 2009

in lead climbing. He also became the first person to climb 9b+
and 9c routes. The World Championships would hold further
success for Ondra, where he went on to win medals aplenty in
every color. He has won four World Championships titles – two
in 2014, one in 2016, and more recently another in 2019. His
double gold in 2014 made him the only male athlete to have
won the World Cup series in both disciplines which are, lead
climbing in 2009 followed by 2015, and 2019 and bouldering in
2010 by the age of 17.

Furthermore, these are the awards he has received to date:

 Salewa Rock Award in 2008, 2010, 2011, and 2013.
 Gold Medal in Lead Climbing World Championships as a
Youth in 2007, 2008, and 2009.
 Gold Medal in Lead Climbing World Championships as an
Adult in 2014, 2016, and 2019.
  Silver Medal in Lead Climbing World Championships as an
Adult in 2009 and 2018.
 Gold Medal in Bouldering World Championships as an
Adult in 2014.
 Silver Medal in Bouldering World Championships as an
Adult in 2011 and 2016.
 Silver Medal in Combined World Championships as an
Adult in 2018.
 Gold Medal in Lead Climbing European Championships in
2019.
 Silver Medal in Lead Climbing European Championships in
2010, 2015, and 2017.
 Silver Medal in Bouldering European Championships in
2010 and 2015.
 Gold Medal in Duel Rock Master in 2011, 2015, and 2016.
 Gold Medal in KO Boulder Rock Master in 2016.
 Silver Medal in Bouldering World Cup in 2019.
 Gold Medal in Lead World Cup in 2009, 2015, and 2019.
 Gold Medal in Bouldering World Cup in 2010.
 Silver Medal in Combined World Cup in 2014 and 2019.
 Gold Medal in Combined World Cup in 2009, 2010, and
2015.

In 2013, Rock & Ice described Ondra as “A sensation and the

leading prodigy of his generation”.
SPONSORSHIP AND BRAND AMBASSADOR:

Adam Ondra is a living legend when it comes to climbing.

Because he’s The Adam Ondra, many great companies sponsor
him. From companies that create climbing gear to those that
make clothes and also the ones dealing in resorts. Ondra is
sponsored by several big brands that want to promote their
products by having Adam on their side. He is sponsored by
companies such as Montura, La Sportiva, Trentino, Black
Diamond, Mazagrande, Garda, and Volkswagen.
He also has his very own gym in his hometown Brno, called
“The Hangar”. Black Diamond sponsors Ondra with all
equipment that he requires for climbing.