Stunning photos capture 15-year-old climber’s Olympic training

15-year-old Angie Scarth-Johnson had to ask for special permission to compete this year due to her young age. With the games postponed, Angie is using the extra time to train in the beautiful Blue Mountains.

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The pincer-like grip that teenager Angie Scarth-Johnson normally applies to rock high off the ground is now clinging on to her Olympic dream.

With the Tokyo 2020 games postponed, the 15-year-old is using the extra time to ensure she is one of the two people to represent Australia when rock climbing debuts in Japan.

Angie Scarth-Johnson climbs at Gateway Crag in the Blue Mountains. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Angie had to ask for special permission to compete for a spot in Australia’s Olympic team. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

“My plan was to come back to Sydney to compete in the Oceania qualifiers for the Olympics then return to the gym I train at in Austria,” Angie said. But now at home in the Blue Mountains, she has returned to some of the rocky routes on which she climbed the ranks of her sport at such a young age. In 2011 she became the youngest person to climb a grade 31.

Angie usually trains eight hours a day in an Austrian climbing facility. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

Angie is competing for a spot on the two person Australian climbing team. Picture: AAP Image/Brendon Thorne

“I normally go for a run then climb about three hours every day,” she said.

“It is a bit different to Austria where I’m in a big gym climbing eight hours a day, five days a week.

“My dad and I built a homemade wall for me to practise on also.”

Eight women and eight men are vying for just two spots on the Australian climbing team after the first round of qualifications.

If she qualifies, Angie will be one of the youngest competitors at 17, after asking for special consideration to be considered at just 15.