Rock Climber Brooke Raboutou in Two-Piece Workout Gear Conquers "Climb Fest"

Brooke Raboutou is a very successful rock climber. She competed in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics, winning silver this year. In September, she competed in Climb Fest, and shared a video of one of her races on Instagram. Raboutou captioned the post, “Here is my final race and jump from the top of the Climb Fest wall in New York! For those interested in the stats: 55ft wall + 10ft barge = 65ft total 🫣 Final climb was about 7C/ 5.12d and took me about 45 seconds 💃 Was a pleasure @kylieclimbs 🤝”

1. She Climbs

Climbing is the main way Raboutou stays in shape. International Medical Aid states that climbing has a lot of mental health benefits. “Rock climbing gets you into the thick of nature. You can feel the wind in your hair, the rustle of trees, the sturdy rock beneath your feet. Research shows that spending time in nature can reduce blood pressure, strengthen your immune system and elevate your mood. And let’s not forget the sense of awe and wonder you experience when you take in those spectacular views!”

2. She Has The Right Mindset

When Raboutou competes, she makes sure to get into the right mindset. She shared her approach in an interview with Olympics.com. “My dad has always said, 'It's just you and the wall.’ Which is just a reminder that it's not about anybody else. It's just about me and giving myself to the boulders in front of me."

3. She Enjoys Climbing

Raboutou has a lot of love for climbing. She tells Olympics.com that this started at her gym as a child. “ABC energy has been chaotic and wonderful since day one, so that hasn't changed too much. We not only competed against each other, but we pushed each other to work hard... and we just had so much fun too. That whole philosophy has really just continued with me throughout my career. I'm competing out of pure passion - and that passion is continuing to grow and [I have] the want to learn more and more about the sport and what I'm capable of... and, just pushing myself."

4. She Spends Time Outside

Raboutou tells Olympics.com that she likes to spend time outside. “As much as I compete, I also love outdoor climbing," she said. "I just love getting to be outside and really connect with nature, be with family and friends - or sometimes even solo. There's just something about it that really motivates me, wanting to get to the top of the climb and really being there for the boulder itself... for the simple act of just like being outdoors and feeding my soul with all that good energy."

5. She Alternates Her Training

Raboutou tells Olympics.com that she likes to alternate her approach to climbing training. “Sometimes it's to go out and try the hardest climb possible," she said. "And sometimes it's just to do really easy climbs and fall in love with the movement and get lost in the outdoors. Every trip outdoors can look different, which is why it's super special."

Athlete Nina Williams is a professional climber, known mostly for bouldering and ironically, is from Boulder, Colorado. “Particularly excited to see this quarter’s @americanalpine Guidebook in the mail - not only for some rad history about a Front Range classic, The Naked Edge (ft. Edge legends @alldayeddie & @stefangriebel), but also because this edition holds a published version of our 2024 Impact Report as well as AAC’s new strategic plan,” she said on Instagram. “A strategic plan guides an organization at the highest level, the ‘north star’ we reference when thinking about our future. Many hours, voices, and hearts carefully considered the intent of our strategy and how that shapes our impact in the coming years. I’m proud of the board (shoutout past Prez @grahamzimmerman for your thought partnership 🙏🏼), AAC leadership, and staff in rallying behind our mission, vision, and values in support of a strong AAC member community. Super excited for the years to come!” She’s passionate about what she does. Here’s what she does to stay in great shape!

1. She goes bouldering

Of course, she truly enjoys climbing. “Very pleased with my shorty beta on the first-move crux of Candyland V11. Who needs reach when you can just shoulder intermediates 😏Shoutout to @austinlee1989 for rallying an all-time crew on a perfect autumn day in the Basin. And congrats to @kellyabirch on her 100th double digit boulder 🥳My bouldering stoke is coming back now that I’m able to session for longer with less pain. Still just three weeks into the rehab plan with @theclimbingphysio and @latticetraining but I’m feeling optimistic. Onwards,” she said on Instagram.

2. She takes care of her freckles

She takes care of her skin while spending time outside. “Don’t forget your sunspots ☀️☺️ @freaksofnature___ protecting my freckles with natural ingredients & no white cast,” she said on Instagram. According to John Hopkins Medicine, “for day-to-day use, pick a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. If you spend time outdoors, choose a product with SPF 60 or greater. In reality, most people do not use as much sunscreen as they should, and this higher SPF helps compensate for the reduced application.”

3. She spends time with her community

In between climbing, she spends time with her supportive community. “Squeezed in this rad Rumney boulder during @barndoorhostel’s Start-Of-Summer Outdoor Fest 🤗 Still managing wrist/elbow pain but can try hard during shorter sessions. Seeing family, friends, and the New England community was healing too ❤ More thoughts on this current injury but for now plz enjoy the sports action,” she said on Instagram.

4. She challenges herself climbing

She finds boulders and places to climb that really challenge her. “When in California, obvs have to stop by Bishop 💛 It’s a little warm for hard boulders but I’m lookin at a tall one 👀 and soaking up the immaculate friend vibes as always,” she said on Instagram, on a series of photos and videos of her climbing and spending time with friends.

5. She cycles

As part of a longer Instagram post, she talked about challenging herself with cycling. “After the initial 41 mile uphill bike ride I was deep in the pain cave, I can’t remember the last time I did something that cardio intensive. When I hopped off the bike I was so sore and so wobbly, wondering how I ever thought this could be fun. For the first mile of the approach, I was cramping up virtually every step. It did get better, but marginally,” she said on Instagram.

British rock climber Shauna Coxsey, renowned for her strength and skill on the wall, has launched her latest journey, “Project Come Back Stronger,” aiming to reach new heights after becoming a mom. Recently, Coxsey shared a motivating Instagram post in two-piece workout gear, showcasing her dedication to climbing and fitness. Reflecting on her career in an interview with Women’s Fitness, Coxsey shared, “I love the freedom [rock climbing] gives me.” Now embracing a balanced approach, she focuses on less intense yet challenging climbs, while maintaining four core training sessions each week. Coxsey is mindful of her nutrition too, fueling her body with high-calorie, nutrient-rich meals to stay energized through training, competition, and the demands of new motherhood.

1. She Has Four Training Schedules

Coxsey shared her training schedule in her Women’s Fitness interview. “I wouldn’t say I have a training plan anymore, but I have my four ‘bare-minimum’ training sessions that I like to do each week to keep me ticking over,” she explained. “These include two finger- strength sessions, one board session, and a climbing session either on the wall or outdoors that lasts for four hours (that used to be my minimum). It’s only recently that I’ve been able to climb for three days in a row, which I find mind-blowing because I used to train nine days on and one day off.”

2. She Doesn’t Push Herself Too Hard

Coxsey talked about what climbs she takes on in an interview with Women’s Fitness. “In the past, I focused on doing very hard climbs that pushed me to my limit, but now it’s nice to try climbs that might be a bit tricky or weird, but not immediately at the cutting edge. It’s also great to get back to my roots and connect with the climbing community way more than I used to. Because the competition wall is so elite, I did isolate myself massively to get where I wanted to be, but rock climbing has reopened my whole world of climbing.”

3. She Gets Enough Calories

Coxsey shared her approach to eating in her Women’s Fitness interview. “My diet hasn’t changed much, but I’m having to be very conscious about eating more calories,” she revealed. “I weigh quite a bit less than I did in Tokyo – I’d prefer to put more muscle mass on. It’s hard when you’re training full-time and breastfeeding, and there’s little research on the subject, but I’ve been working on having more food and snacks around so it’s easier to eat. I turned up to bouldering recently with all of Frankie’s snacks and water, and I hadn’t even packed my climbing shoes and chalk bag, let alone snacks for me!”

4. She Eats Healthy

Coxsey shared her typical diet with Red Bull. She says that she makes sure to eat healthy when she’s training and competing. “I’ll always eat a big protein and carbohydrate-rich breakfast and tailor the diet for the day based on when I’m competing so I have enough energy without feeling full. I’ll have snacks through competition and Red Bull before and during the event. Afterwards I’ll refuel with a protein-rich snack.”

5. She Climbs

Coxsey shared what she likes about climbing in an interview with Women’s Fitness. “I’ve moved into rock climbing which has been a huge change because there are so many layers to it. I love the freedom it gives me. With competition climbing, I had to perform at that time, on that day, in that moment. There was no ‘I didn’t sleep well’ or ‘I feel a bit funny’, and I trained to be the best and to beat everyone else on their best day.”

Margo Hayes is a rock-climbing phenom who made history in 2017 when, at just 19 years old, she became the first woman to ascend a 9a+ (5.15a) route. With three World Youth Championship gold medals and two 5.15-grade climbs under her belt, Hayes has solidified her place as one of the most influential climbers of her generation. Beyond her achievements on the wall, Hayes is also a singer and released her debut single, “Karma,” earlier this year. Recently, she appeared on the Climbing Gold podcast with Alex Honnold to discuss her journey, battles with Lyme disease, and how she balances her passion for climbing with her other interests.

1. She Rock Climbs

Rock climbing is one of the main ways Hayes stays in shape. The sport has a lot of health benefits. The Glen Ellyn Park District states, “Rock climbing is a physically demanding sport that requires strength, endurance, flexibility, and mental focus. It’s imperative to understand proper climbing techniques and how to use the specialized safety equipment required for climbing.”

2. She Does Pull-Ups

Margo Hayes/Instagram

Hayes shares a lot of her favorite workouts on an Instagram story highlight. An exercise that she does often is pull-ups. According to Gymless, they are very beneficial. “Pull-ups can give size and strength to your upper body muscles. It allows you to target your lats, biceps, traps, and many more muscles. Practicing this consistently along with other variations that target different muscle groups, inevitably will give you the muscular aesthetics that you’re seeking. A study emphasized this by suggesting that this close kinetic chain exercise is designed to increase the muscular strength and endurance of the upper body and torso.”

3. She Uses Weight

Margo Hayes/Instagram

Hayes likes to strength train to stay in shape. One way she does so is by doing pull-ups with a weight on her body. Strength training has a lot of benefits. The Mayo Clinic states, “Strength training may enhance your quality of life and improve your ability to do everyday activities. Strength training can also protect your joints from injury. Building muscle also can contribute to better balance and may reduce your risk of falls. This can help you maintain independence as you age.”

4. She Boxes

Margo Hayes/Instagram

Hayes shared on her Instagram story that she likes to box to stay in shape. Harvard Health states that boxing has a lot of benefits. “Fitness boxing is also a great aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise gets your heart pumping and helps lower the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It can strengthen bones and muscles, burn more calories, and lift mood. Aerobics can also boost your endurance, which helps you climb a flight of stairs or walk farther.”

5. She Spends Time Outside

Margo Hayes/Instagram

Hayes spends a lot of time outside, even when she isn’t climbing. Hayes likes to go to the beach a lot. UC Davis states that going outside has a lot of benefits. “Getting out into nature can lead us to want to walk, bike, hike, or kayak more often. People typically engage in regular physical activity when they're in nature. So, stepping outside can help you keep a healthy weight or even lose weight by increasing activity levels. Studies also show that being in nature has a positive effect on our bodies by reducing cortisol levels, muscle tension, and demands on our cardiovascular systems (lowers heart rate and blood pressure). Being out in nature often may lead to lower rates of heart disease. The great outdoors can also help you increase your vitamin D level, which is important for your bones, blood cells, and immune system.”

Janae Marie Kroc, a celebrated bodybuilder and YouTuber, is back in action after a major surgery. Last month, she revealed on Instagram that she’s preparing for her first competition since undergoing surgery for a completely ruptured quadriceps tendon and torn meniscus. Kroc shared, “My knee is feeling good, and the strength and mobility in my leg have rebounded really well due to the training, rehab exercises, and other protocols I have been following over the last 6 months or so.” She invited followers to join her journey and offered to share the exercises that have aided her recovery. Kroc’s determination and resilience serve as inspiration for anyone facing obstacles on their fitness journey.

1. She Lifts Weights

Kroc naturally does a lot of weightlifting to stay in shape. She shared this video of herself using weights at the gym on Instagram. ACE Fitness states that weightlifting has a lot of benefits. “Lifting heavy weights increases production of the hormone IGF-1. This hormone is related to the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is a neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating the growth of new neural pathways in the brain along with enhancing communication between existing pathways. In short, lifting heavy could make you smarter by enhancing cognitive function.”

2. She Follows Her Dreams

Kroc is all about going after her dreams. She talked about this in the caption of the previous Instagram link. “Often the bigger you dream the more other people are going to try to tear your dreams down. Unfortunately, sometimes that can even be the people closest to us like our own parents, friends, or partners. I want everyone to know that there's only one person in this world that has to believe in your dream in order for it to become reality and that person is you! Everyone else in the world can think your goals are unattainable or even foolish but as long as you maintain that belief in yourself, put in the work that is necessary, and never give up you will be successful in the end. In the YouTube video we just uploaded today (link is in my bio) I share a personal story of mine where after a major injury doubters and haters all said my powerlifting career was over but I share how I used that as motivation to silence my critics and come back stronger than ever. So in regard to whatever dreams and goals you may have, believe in them wholeheartedly, ignore the naysayers, and resolve to do everything in your power to make them come true!

3. She Raises Awareness

Kroc raises awareness about a lot of causes. In 2020, she spoke out against the Trump administration erasing the transgender civil rights in healthcare on Instagram. Kroc captioned the post, “A 2011 study found that 1 in 5 transgender people report being denied medical treatment by medical providers including doctors, clinics, hospitals, and ambulance drivers. Sadly, discrimination in health care for transgender people is very real and our current administration has just made it legal to do so. Please, please remember this when it comes time to vote and do so accordingly as that simple act could result in saving many lives.”

4. She Mountain Bikes

Kroc shared this video on Instagram of herself on a mountain biking trip, captioning it, “Full video from our #mountainbiking ride last week now up on my YouTube channel! 🚴‍♀️😊👍 We show the highlights from our super fun ride and I explain why I often present more masculine when mountain biking and doing other activities. 🙂”

5. She Cliff Jumps

Kroc does a lot of extreme sports, including cliff jumping. Kroc shared this post on Instagram of a cliff jumping experience, captioning it, “Sending it off a 30' ish cliff at Canyon Falls in the UP yesterday. (For non-Michiganders ‘UP’ stands for the upper peninsula) I believe in living life to the fullest and that includes all aspects of my life; professional, personal, athletic, and recreational.”