From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michaela Kiersch (born 1994) is an American
rock climber recognized for her outdoor ascents in both
sport climbing and
bouldering. She is known for being the first woman to climb both 5.15a (9a+) and V15 (8C).
[1][2]Early life
[
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Kiersch was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She began climbing at the age of seven in an indoor gym. During her early years, she participated in both competition climbing and outdoor climbing trips to the
Red River Gorge. By the age of 15, she competed internationally, finishing 22nd in the Boulder World Cup in 2010 and 18th in a Lead World Cup the following year.
[3]Career
[
edit]
Kiersch was a member of the
U.S. Climbing Team and competed in lead, speed, and bouldering disciplines. She placed fifth at the
IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships in 2008
[4] and won the
Psicobloc deep water solo competition in 2016.
[5]In 2022, Kiersch spent three weeks in Magic Wood, Switzerland, where she climbed 16 boulders graded V10 (7C) or harder. During a six-week trip to Spain in early 2023, she onsighted a 5.14a (8b+), redpointed a 5.14b (8c) and two 5.14c (8c+) routes, and climbed her second 5.15a (9a+), Victima Perfecta.
[6][7] At the 28th Hueco Tanks Boulder Competition, she won the Women's Open category with a score of 7437 points.
[8] Her performance included ascents such as:
- Crown of Aragorn (V13/8B)[9]
- Thrilla in Manila (V12/13)[10]
- Rumble in the Jungle (V12/8A+)
- Phantom Limb (V12/8A+)
Notable ascents
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Kiersch has completed several notable ascents in both sport climbing and bouldering. Her sport climbing achievements include:
- Golden Ticket (5.14c/8c+), first female ascent
- Necessary Evil (5.14c/8c+), first female ascent[11]
- Dreamcatcher (5.14d/9a)[12]
- La Rambla (5.15a/9a+)
- Victima Perfecta (5.15a/9a+)[13]
Her notable bouldering ascents include:
- Crown of Aragorn (V13/8B)[14]
- New Baseline (V14/8B+)
- Tigris Sit (V14/8B+)
- Amandla (V14/8B+)
- Dreamtime (V15/8C)[15][16]
