Natalija Gros retires from competition climbing

2011 marked the end of the competition career of one of Slovenia's foremost competition climbers, Natalija Gros. Born in Kranj in 1984, Gros started climbing at age 6 and began competing aged 9, first in national lead competitions and in 1994 she progressed to international competitions. In 2006 Gros decided to take part in Bouldering competitions too, and continued to compete in both disciplines until 2011.

In total, Gros stepped onto the World Cup podium 23 times in her competition career and highlights in her career include winning three youth world championship titles, silver in the European Championships in Lecco in 2004 and gold in European Bouldering and Combined Championship in Paris in 2008. Other titles include winning the Serre Chevalier master in 2004 and 2009, bronze in the Lead World Cup 2004 as well as bronze in the Bouldering World Cups 2007 and 2009.

Gros has obviously also excelled on rock, onsighting up to 8a+. In 2002 she sent her first 8b, in 2005 she redpointed her first 8b+ - Kaj ti je deklica at Misja pec in Slovenia - while a year later it was time for her first 8c, the nearby Strelovod. At the same crag she upped the ante in March 2008 by sending Histerija 8c+ and in doing so became one of the first women to dominate this grade.

The Slovenian climber has stared in various films including "Chalk & Chocolate" which documents her 8c+ ascent, "New dimension" which explores urban style bouldering in Argentina and the short film "Le tango vertical".

During her recent end-of-career celebration the Slovenian athlete auctioned photos to raise almost 3000 euros for two charities she supports, Wings for Life and the association Friends of youth which organises climbing camps for socially disadvantaged children.

Chalk & Chocolate

Le Tango Vertical