Nineteen-year-old Kommetjie resident Seth Donald has been selected to represent South Africa at two prestigious European Cup climbing competitions in Italy and Switzerland in June and July.

The rising star in sport climbing is set to compete in Campitello di Fassa, Italy, from June 20 to June 22, and Ostermundigen, Switzerland, from July 3 to July 5.

However, with no financial support from the sporting federations, he and his family are now working to raise R100 000 to make the trip possible.

Seth’s journey in climbing began in December 2021 when his aunt gifted him a day pass to CityRock climbing gym in Paarden Eiland.

From that first climb, he was hooked.

“All he wanted to do was climb,” said his mother, Zoë Donald.

By January 2022, he had a membership, and soon, his routine revolved around training.

A year later, he entered his first provincial competition and placed in the top five despite having had no formal training.

This early success led to an invitation to join the Western Cape High Performance Team and the Gravity League Climbing Club, where structured coaching took his skills to a new level.

He claimed a bronze medal in the under-17 division at nationals in just two years, competed in the 2023 IFSC Africa Cup, and ranked 12th in Africa.

In September 2024, he reached the top six in the Open category at the SA Climbing National Championship, earning him a place in the upcoming European Cups.

Seth expressed mixed emotions upon learning of his selection.

“Initially, I was quite overwhelmed because I will be the only South African at these two European Cups, and I’ve never travelled overseas before,” he said.

“But as it sank in, I got more excited. I’m looking forward to competing and seeing Europe," he added.

For Seth, climbing is about more than just strength; it’s about strategy.

“I love pushing my physical and technical skills to the limit. Every route is a problem that needs solving, and overcoming self-doubt is part of the challenge.”

The competitions will expose him to some of the best climbers in the world.

“I’m keen to see how European athletes train and to visit different climbing gyms to experience new styles of route setting,” he said.

His long-term goals include qualifying for a World Cup in 2026 and tackling some of the hardest outdoor routes in South Africa and beyond.

Watching her son’s growth in the sport has been an emotional journey for Ms Donald.

“From the moment he started climbing, it just clicked. He went from a skinny kid playing computer games all day to a strong, capable young man with a passion and direction in life,” she said.

“We’ve made sacrifices as a family to support his training, but we wouldn’t change a thing.”

Despite Seth’s achievements, funding remains a significant hurdle. “Raising money for less mainstream sports is tough,” said Ms Donald

“Many corporates either ask us to try again next year or focus on team sports like soccer and netball," she said.

So far, they have secured R50 000, including two corporate donations of R20 000 each, but they still need to raise the remaining R100 000 to cover flights, accommodation, transport, competition fees, and training expenses.

“This is going to take a team effort, and every little bit helps,” Ms Donald said.

For more information, contact Zoe Donald at zoe.donald@me.com

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Kommetjie climber to represent SA in Europe