Among the 66 women competing at the World Climbing Europe Championships Barcelona 2026, Afraa Mohammad took to the matts to fulfil a life-long dream of competing in elite level sport.

In what is just the first step in her career of competitive climbing, Mohammad joined the likes of Olympians Oriane Bertone and Camilla Moroni on stage in Barcelona to take on the Boulder wall.

Finishing in 59^th place, Mohammad was full of excitement after her qualification round and was overcome with emotions:

“I’m very overwhelmed to be honest. I don’t think there’s ever words to explain the feeling when we get to do something for the first time that we get told our whole lives we can’t do.

“During my whole life I was told sport is not for me. I was told I couldn’t compete because I was born a refugee. Today sport is for me. I don’t have the words to explain how amazing this feeling is.”

Speaking specifically about her climbing in her first competition Mohammad said:

“I loved the vibes. I loved seeing everyone here. I loved seeing that everyone has their place and this is what it is all about. We all have one goal to top the boulders, and if we don’t we give it all we have and I think everyone did today.”

The women’s Boulder competition was won by Bertone with Mohammad now looking to join her at a World Climbing Series even in the near future.