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Not many have what it takes to reach the top in climbing. This unforgiving sport is just as much a mental game as it is technical and physical, and has humbled some of the fittest athletes in the world. The wall is however no match for paraclimber Brian Zarzuela.

This athlete doesn't have your average origin story, in fact, Brian was left out of sports as a kid because of his disability. But one day in middle school, he discovered an afterschool club that changed everything. Brian took up baseball, basketball, handball, ice skating, football, BMX, martial arts - you name it he tried it. He'd finally found an outlet for years of built up energy and it just felt right.

Climbing didn't however come naturally. On his 19th birthday, Brian took on his first wall, and he admits, he was pretty bad! But there was something about the sport that kept him coming back. He's winning medals across the world, but how does he perform at the US National Paraclimbing championships?

This Great Big Story is powered by @HuelYT

#PoweredByHuel #Ad #Sport #Disability #Athletic

00:00 Meet Brian Zarzuela
01:25 Growing up
02:35 Finding sports
03:45 Overcoming insecurities
04:18 Why an extreme sport?
05:19 Competition Day
06:00 The Results
06:17 Outro

Lead Producer - Annabel Fraser
Camera - Rafael Abreu Canedu
Editor - James Rayner
Graphics - Will Minns

With thanks to https://movementgyms.com/

Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at pitch [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com 📧

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