Katherine
Choong

Athletes Mammut Kathy Choong
Born in
1992
Mammut athlete since
2007
At home in
Roches, Switzerland

“There
is
only
one
thing
that
makes
a
dream
impossible
to
achieve:
the
fear
of
failure.”

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11 questions with Katherine

Advice you’d give your younger self

Don’t be afraid to make choices that seem right for you.

Something on your bucket list

Take the time to play guitar again, read more, travel without a time limit, see the northern lights, buy a farm and have lots of animals.

Your favorite mountain

Lauterbrunnen valley, Switzerland.

Your hidden talent

Making crazy Carnival costumes.

What you wanted to be when you grew up

Working in a circus with lions.

A moment you’ll never forget

Becoming a junior world champion – my dream since the beginning.

What you love most about climbing

We do not compare ourselves to others. Rock climbing is about creativity, constantly surpassing yourself, a strong will and your relationship with nature.

Something you learned from sports

I dared to live my passion and not to follow the path of others. After finishing my law master's degree, I interrupted my internship to have more time for my passion. Not easy in a country where it's difficult to make a living with a sports career, especially climbing, and where unconventional paths are sometimes met with skepticism.

Other hobbies and interests

Writing, going to flea markets for antique furniture, providing climbing lessons to refugees in my area as part of ClimbAID.

Your top tip for other climbers

Have fun. The more fun you have, the more time you'll spend climbing and practicing.

Something you’re often asked – and the answer

Are you not afraid of falling? Yes, I’m scared. I’m constantly learning to deal with that fear. What helps me is the trust in my equipment, in the people I climb with and the focus on my ultimate goal.

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Katherine’s current favorite gearÂ