STERKENBURG Erin

South Africa

Sport Climbing

Date of Birth: 20 Mar 2003

Age: 18

Gender: Female

Height (m/ft): 1.63/5'4''

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Sport Climbing	Women's Combined	20

Schedule

Change

Location	Event	Status
Aomi Urban Sports Park	Women's Combined, Speed Qualification	Finished
Aomi Urban Sports Park	Women's Combined, Bouldering Qualification	Finished
Aomi Urban Sports Park	Women's Combined, Lead Qualification	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

African Championships

Year	Location	Combined
2020	Cape Town, RSA	1

World Cup overview - Three best ranks per season and event since 2017

Year	Speed	Boulder
2021	1 x 22nd	1 x 42nd, 1 x 47th

World Cup - Ten best performances since 2017

Rank	Year	Event	Location
22	2021	Women's Speed	Salt Lake City, UT, USA
42	2021	Boulder	Salt Lake City, UT, USA
47	2021	Boulder	Salt Lake City, UT, USA

World Youth Championships

Year	Location	Boulder	Lead
2019	Arco, ITA	33	48

Occupation:

Student

Languages spoken:

English

Club name:

Southern Rock Climbing Centre [Durban, RSA]

Start:

She began climbing at Westville Girls' High School in Durban, South Africa at age 13. She also played hockey and basketball at school. (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021; highwaymail.co.za, 23 Jan 2021)

Reason:

"When I was applying for high school I saw that there was a climbing club and, when I tried it, I knew it was something I wanted to do." (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021)

Ambition:

To compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Toyko. (rammountain.co.za, 22 Feb 2020)

Training:

She does most of her lead training outside on rock, as the only indoor facility near her is a bouldering gym. She trains five days a week. (timeslive.co.za, 06 Jan 2021; ukclimbing.com, 31 Dec 2020)

Memorable:

Winning the 2020 African Championships in Cape Town, South Africa, which secured an Olympic quota spot for South Africa at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021)

Hero:

British climber Shauna Coxsey. (timeslive.co.za, 06 Jan 2021)

Ritual:

"While I'm climbing I often talk out loud to myself about the moves or I sing quietly - really weird I know - which is fine when I'm lead climbing because no one can hear me, but sometimes it happens while I boulder and people think I'm crazy." (rammountain.co.za, 01 Dec 2019)

Philosophy:

"Don't ever hold back. Try everything." (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021)

General Interest

Preferred discipline
Lead (ukclimbing.com, 31 Dec 2020)

General
SCHOOL STUDIES
Her school allowed her time off from her studies to train for the rescheduled 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. "I am in my matriculation [final] year [in 2021] so it's maybe not the best year to be going, but it will just come down to a lot of time management. I've done it before when I went to the world youths and there will be a lot of teaching after school and the principal has also been very understanding and will help me as much as possible by giving me time to climb." (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021)

Milestones

In 2020 she became the first female climber representing an African nation to secure Olympic qualification in sport climbing for her nation. (gsport.co.za, 14 Feb 2021)

Social Media

https://instagram.com/erin_sterks/

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos