WIth interest in the public concious following the televised climb of a Taipei skyscraper by climbing legend Alex Honnold, the article investigates an explosion of interest in the sport, fuelled by the post-pandemic boom in exercise.

The event, which streamed live on Netflix to millions of viewers worldwide, highlighted how climbing, even in it’s extreme and perilous form a world away from the safe environments of gyms and competitions, has entered the mainstream.

Over the past decade, the sport has grown rapidly due to documentaries, Olympic inclusion and post-pandemic interest in fitness. Films about outdoor and indoor climbing have helped popularise the activity globally. Climbing’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, followed by the success of Paris 2024, attracted huge audiences both at the venues and online. The number of indoor climbing gyms has exploded worldwide, making the sport more accessible to more people. Participation has risen sharply, especially in the US, Europe and Asia.

Despite this growth, many professional climbers struggle to earn a stable income. Prize money and federation budgets remain low compared with other sports, as Piero Rebaudengo, World Climbing Secretary General, confirms in the article. World Climbing is expanding its membership but still lacks full Olympic funding, with this money reserved for full programme sports. Climbing will gain this status at LA28, but for the two previous Olympic appearances has been classed as an additional sport.

Overall, climbing remains a young, dynamic and vibrant sport balancing rapid commercial growth with its cultural roots and heritage. The focus made by one of the world's leading business news organisations confirms this successful story.