Aleksandra’s road to winning a bronze medal in Olympic speed climbing in 2024 was years in the making. The 22-year-old admires speed climbers from Tarnów, her hometown. “I feel lucky to be from Tarnów. It’s Poland’s speed climbing capital. As a child, I looked up to the athletes competing in events. I guess that I was jealous because they were winning the medals, so I wanted to do the same as them.”
Speed climbing debuted in the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021 as part of a combined event. Athletes competed in three types (speed, lead, and bouldering) for one medal. Lead uses ropes, while bouldering does not. For Paris, the format changed to separate speed climbing into its own medal category. It is the fastest event in the Olympics, with climbers taking just seconds to race up a 15-metre wall.
Aleksandra climbed the wall in 6.53 seconds. How did it feel to win bronze? “I don’t remember the moment when I clicked on the button on the top and I saw the green light,” she says. “After winning a bronze medal, I was so happy, and I was crying so much because all my emotions were finally released.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity. Staying in the Olympic Village for 10 days was special for me. It was tough, but I felt proud and happy to be there.”
A mental battle in Olympic speed climbing
Aleksandra took a break from using a speed wall for two months after the Olympics. She wanted to let her body and mind rest. She says: “The past year was so hard for me mentally in particular. I am obligated to take care of my body because it allows me to do what I am doing, so I am currently taking some time to recover.”
Aleksandra believes the hardest part of competing is the mental aspect. She says, “Every athlete is ready for the Olympic Games physically. But their mindset will decide who wins a medal. It is an intense experience, and I needed to learn how to deal with the pressure of the media and interviews.”
She faced a new challenge six weeks before the Olympics. She decided to change her coach. “I was brave enough to trust my intuition that it would work out for me.” It was completely risky, but I’m so proud that I did it because it helped me to achieve what I wanted to achieve.”
Scaling new heights
Muscle memory, technique and physical power are key components of successful Olympic speed climbing. Aleksandra plans to build on these skills in the University’s Sport and Exercise Centre as she trains for the next Olympic Games. “During winter preparation, I tend to spend more time in the gym because I need to be able to run fast and be prepared physically.”
Aleksandra is impressed with the University’s sports facilities. She says: “When I first visited the Sports and Exercise Centre, I was surprised. It’s such a big gym! My last university had a small gym with old equipment. Here, it’s different. The sports centre is huge. We also have a performance gym for elite athletes, which helps us focus on training.”
Aleksandra is in the University’s Sport Scholar programme, which offers help to student athletes who want to succeed internationally.
She says: “Without academic flexibility, I wouldn’t be able to be a student and an athlete at the same time. It is very important to have people at the University supporting me because I am living in a new country.
“My coach from Poland is coming here every month for two weeks at a time to give me advice and check on me. The rest of the time, I train alone, and the coaches here are helping me to deal with everything.”
From Olympic speed climbing podium to classroom
Before her Olympic success, Aleksandra represented Poland in speed climbing at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in 2022 and won a gold medal. The competition was held in Edinburgh and it was during that time that she “fell in love with the city”.
“Edinburgh to me is such a magical place,” she says. “I’ve travelled the world as an athlete, but I believe Edinburgh is the most beautiful city I’ve seen. There’s something special about it.”
Aleksandra is excited to study for a Masters in Applied Mathematics at the University. However, being a student in a new country has its challenges. She says: “Studying English is new for me. I can understand when people talk or when I read, but sometimes I need time to express myself in English.”
Aleksandra was finishing her first mathematics degree at Tarnów Academy in Poland while training for the Olympics. She says: “It is hard to be both a student and an athlete, but, in the past, I have managed to juggle both. I think I am good at studying – I’ve never had a problem passing exams. While I am studying, I am resting from climbing. It’s a great opportunity to experience a new challenge in my life.”
What does the future hold? Aleksandra says she wants to focus on her studies in the next year and get her degree. In terms of speed climbing, she will be training for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 during her time in Edinburgh. Her main goal is to compete against her twin sister, Natalia. Natalia is also a speed climber and just missed the Polish team for Paris 2024. “I dream of competing with my sister in the Los Angeles Olympics. Without her, I wouldn’t have won an Olympic medal. Our connection is so strong, and she knows exactly what I’m going through.”
Aleksandra advises her fellow student athletes to confront their fears. She says, “Bravery doesn’t mean you aren’t scared; it means you do it anyway, even when you are. All the athletes at the Olympics felt scared of competing, but everyone showed enough bravery to take part.”
