Veronica Chik, 9, completes China Climb (8b+)

Veronica Chik began climbing at the age of five and normally she trains five times a week. In March, she ventured into outdoor climbing for the first time. Following three months of intense training, she encountered a fear of falling from heights, prompting her to take a temporary break. After approximately ten weeks of mental adjustment, Veronica resumed her training in September with renewed determination to conquer her fears. Just a few weeks later, the 135 cm tall climber successfully completed China Climb (8b+) in Yangshuo.

Her mother Vivian shares their story. ”The emotional rollercoaster of the past few months has been indescribable. From the moment we decided to accept this challenge, we knew it would be a difficult journey. Every weekend, we traveled from Hong Kong to Yangshuo for training by high speed train for 5 hours each way, experiencing a whirlwind of emotions—anticipation, excitement, disappointment, doubt, fear, and ultimately courage and perseverance.

We felt heartbroken seeing Veronica's hands covered in calluses, her skin torn and bleeding from climbing. There were times we wanted to convince her to give up, yet she gritted her teeth and insisted she would complete the challenge. Throughout this journey, we reevaluated our roles as parents, contemplating how best to nurture, encourage, and appreciate our child.

This experience has been filled with challenges and inspiration, teaching us the values of courage, persistence, and the spirit of never giving up as our child relentlessly pursues her dreams.

Veronica's success is not only a personal breakthrough but also a recognition of the courage and dreams of the younger generation, inspiring more children to bravely pursue their paths. Although the journey to realizing dreams is fraught with challenges, as long as one is courageous and persistent, dreams can indeed come true. With climbing now included in the Olympics, the popularity of the sport is gradually increasing in Hong Kong, and we look forward to seeing more young climbers courageously chase their dreams, writing their own remarkable stories.”