Mantle athlete Afra Hönig recently celebrated her first international gold medal at the European Cup in Munich.
As early as the age of 6, the now experienced competitive athlete trained at the Landshut training center, and since 2018 she has been a member of the German national bouldering team.
The four-time German bouldering champion took time out for us between university stress and training in the early stages of the competition season:
Congratulations on your impressive performance and victory at the European Cup in Munich, Afra!
"Thank you!"
How do you take this success with you into the preparation for the World Cup season?
"It definitely motivates me a lot! The victory in Munich gives me even more confidence for the World Cup season. I will take the positive experiences and the feeling that the preparation is working well with me and continue to work on my weaknesses."
What does a sample training week look like for you in broad strokes? What is your favorite training element?
- Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat I am training on the wall.
- Tue and Fri there is additionally strength training and physio to keep the body fit.
- I like projects on the spray wall the most.
Regardless of rankings and difficulty levels: What does climbing or bouldering mean to you?
"Climbing simply means freedom and challenge to me. It is not just about rankings, but about growing as a person, discovering new movements and constantly pushing your own limits. It is a deep passion that challenges me both physically and mentally."
How big is the longing for rock in your phases of intensive training?
"For rock you also have to train, of course. That is part of the process, and I don't think it is bad to prepare for it, to then work on difficult boulders outside. But in intensive training phases I already notice that the desire for rock grows."
What do you wish for the future of our favorite sport?
"I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to try climbing, but also that we as a community and as athletes deal responsibly with our resources. It is important that we respect the environment and are a good role model for new generations of climbers."
Interview: Kletterszene / Photo: Xaver Quintus
