Maureen Beck, the highly decorated paraclimber and former Nat Geo Adventurer of the Year, recently announced her retirement after winning her tenth straight nationals. Her decision was motivated by a desire to enjoy life without the stress of competitions. However, the opportunity to compete in the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles prompted her to unretire, as she always dreamt of participating in the games.
In the meantime, Beck plans to focus on personal projects in outdoor climbing and individual goals before resuming her rigorous training for future competitions. She was recently featured in Orlando Bloom’s adventure series and has started an ambassadorship with TINCUP Mountain Whiskey, creating signature cocktails inspired by her love of competition and pet chickens.
Despite stepping back from competitive climbing, Beck remains committed to supporting the growth of the sport and helping new generations of climbers push their own boundaries. She envisions taking on a more supportive role in coaching and mentoring, as she believes there are many others capable of achieving remarkable feats in the sport.
Overall, Beck’s legacy in the climbing world continues to evolve, and while new competitors may be catching up to her skill level, she remains optimistic and dedicated to fostering the next wave of climbing talent. She humorously comments that she hopes to work herself out of a job and see others achieve even greater accomplishments in the future.
Source
Photo credit denvergazette.com