KSL OLYMPICS

Utah Climber Makes Olympic Debut In Tokyo

Aug 3, 2021, 7:40 PM

TOKYO — Another Salt Lake City woman begins her Olympic career Tuesday night as women’s climbing gets going in Tokyo, one day after the men began their competition.

It’s the first time climbing has been an Olympic sport.

The first time you see it, don’t be surprised if you can’t believe it.

It takes the brain a few runs to comprehend how humans can climb so fast.

For the Condie family, though, they’re used to all this climbing because their daughter, Kyra, started doing it early.

“From the moment I started reading stories to her on the couch, she was climbing on my shoulders,” said Tom Condie, Kyra’s father.

“Climbing on top of the fridge,” said Kyra’s mother, Cathy Condie. “We had to actually take her out of her crib early because I was afraid she was going to fall off because she would climb out of the crib.”

Maybe because of all that early training, Kyra Condie is now one of the best climbers in the world.

She moved to Salt Lake City from Minnesota about a couple of years ago to train with USA Climbing.

“I am so proud of Kyra — everything she’s done and how hard she has worked,” said Cathy.

Condie is so good she also made the US Olympic Team and is about to compete in Tokyo for a medal.

“It’s just incredible,” said Tom. “You grow up watching the Olympics. Every four years you would see them, and then they’re there. You’re like, ‘Wow, these people are incredible.’ And now, it’s your daughter there, right? It is just crazy.”

Watching her compete is something the whole family does.

KSL’s Alex Cabrero caught up with them a couple of months ago during a World Cup climbing event in Salt Lake City.

They came because family members aren’t allowed to attend the Games in Tokyo. So the World Cup climbing event was kind of their Olympics.

“My whole family is here to support me since they can’t go to Tokyo,” said Kyra. “I’m really excited they’re here. I love when they come to watch, so I feel very supported. Ha!”

Her parents were there for her first steps, and no doubt, Kyra will feel their support almost half a world away as she takes her first steps up a wall as an Olympian.

“I mean, it’s a bummer I can’t go, of course, but how can you be disappointed when my daughter is going to the Olympics?” said Cathy.

Preliminaries take place later this afternoon here in Tokyo at 5 p.m., that’s 2 a.m. in Salt Lake City.

If Kyra does well enough, she’ll make the finals, which are on Friday.

If you saw the men’s competition on TV, you can see why a lot of people are talking about Olympic climbing right now.

KSL Olympics

Mikaela-Shiffrin-Team-USA-World-Cup...
The Associated Press

Mikaela Shiffrin Sets World Cup Skiing Record With 87th Victory

Minutes after earning her 87th career win, Mikaela Shiffrin understood the significance of setting the record for most World Cup victories.
16 days ago
A 2002 Winter Olympic sign sits outside Rice Eccles Stadium before the start of an college football...
EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer

Winter Olympics Focus On Climate Change, Rotating Hosts

To hear the world's Olympic leaders tell it, the bidding for future Winter Games has been jumbled by internal disputes.
3 months ago
Salt-Lake-City-2002-Winter-Olympics-Logo...
Eddie Pells, AP

Salt Lake City Winter Olympics Bid More Likely For 2034

Recent meetings with the IOC have led U.S. officials to believe all signs point toward Salt Lake City bidding for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
9 months ago
Nordic-Combined-2022-Winter-Olympics...
Larry Lage, AP

Winter Olympics May Not Include Nordic Combined For 1st Time

The IOC is due to make a decision later this month about whether to allow women to compete in Nordic combined at the 2026 Games.
10 months ago
Salt-Lake-City-2002-Winter-Olympics-Logo...
Stephen Wade, AP

Chinese Olympian Eileen Gu Working For Salt Lake Games Bid

Eileen Gu, who won two gold medals for China at the Beijing Olympics, has signed on to work for Salt Lake City's bid for the Winter Olympics.
10 months ago
Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold - Norway...
Associated Press

Russian Olympic Body Challenges Ban From Winter Sports Event

The Russian Olympic Committee has made an urgent appeal to overturn a ban on its athletes competing at a European winter sports festival in Finland.
1 year ago

Sponsored Articles

High angle view of the beautiful Rose Bowl Stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

How to Prepare for the 2023 Rose Bowl

Everything you need to know to plan your 2023 Rose Bowl trip in Pasadena, California. This year, the Utes will face Penn State.
Jordan-Clarkson-Utah-Jazz...
KSL Digital Sales

Notable Moments From The Utah Jazz Season… So Far

At the beginning of the season, the Utah Jazz were second to last. Now they rank in the top 10 teams in the Western Conference.
Football soccer ball on grass field on stadium...
KSL Digital Sales

Everything You Need to Know to Watch the 2022 World Cup

Find out where and when to watch the upcoming games and final match for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including where to find live updates.
ksl sports logos...
KSL Sports

KSL Sports Newsletter: Sign Up Now

Sign up today for the KSL Sports newsletter. Get the latest Utah sports news delivered to your inbox.
jimmy-buffett-tour-art...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Jimmy Buffett

Get your Hawaiian shirts ready.
Iron Maiden tour...
KSL Sports

Win Tickets Wednesday: Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden returns to Utah in 2022 with The Legacy of the Beast tour.
Utah Climber Makes Olympic Debut In Tokyo