Blind rock climber from London, Ont., reaches new heights with plans to compete at 2028 Paralympics

Terry and Patti Hoddinott took a leap of faith when they first tried rock climbing six years ago. 

The London, Ont., couple have been hooked to the ropes ever since, and now, they're aiming to represent Canada in rock climbing when it debuts at the 2028 Summer Paralympics in Los Angeles.

Terry is blind and Patti serves as his caller, guiding him as he climbs up each of the wall's holds — shaped grips that are attached to the wall for climbers to grab or step on them.

"Climbing is my passion," said Terry, who'll turn 65 the year of the next Paralympics. "Everybody thinks of the physical part. They think they're not strong enough, they think it's all upper body. It's a combination — it's very much mental and physical. It's a puzzle on the wall."

The Hoddinotts practise at the Junction Climbing Centre in east London three times a week. They communicate through a two-way headset: as Terry climbs, Patti tells him how to position his body as she belays the ropes.

Patti admits it's definitely as hard as it looks and is mentally challenging. 

"It's demanding and you have to be on your game. You have to imagine every twist and turn, and which way is going to be the most efficient way to climb to get to the top," said Patti.

"And it's an extra element of challenge because I'm five feet tall and Terry's five-feet-10. We have very different body types, so I have to keep that in mind as I'm calling for him. But it's incredibly satisfying and conquering these walls is something we love to do."

In June, the International Paralympic Committee announced that para climbing will be introduced in the 2028 Paralympics program. The Hoddinotts are one of 13 para athletes on Team Canada and competed in last year's para climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the U.S. Nationals in Gaithersburg, Md., where they won a silver medal.

A test of strength and endurance

Competitive climbing differs from recreational climbing, said Terry, adding that competition climbs have lots of overhanging parts and large holds on the walls, called volumes, that can be tough to work around. They are also 50 feet high, whereas recreational walls are about 32 feet tall. 

As he gets higher, it becomes a test of strength, technique and endurance, said Terry, who has been visually impaired since he was three years old.  

"It's a matter of competing and building up your skills. I'm trying to also consider that Patti has to call out every hold for me, so if I get too far ahead or move too quickly, she can lose the train of calling. We have to keep in sync all the way up the wall." 

The Hoddinotts have been welcomed by a community of other para climbers in the group Rise Above Adaptive Climbing (RAAC) at the Junction. Its founder, Miranda Scott, also an employee at the gym, has witnessed first hand how they've have grown as climbers over the years.

"We call them the mom and dad of our group. It's inspiring to see them get so into it," Scott said. 

"I've watched them get stronger over time. Terry in particular, it's been amazing for him to go from a guy who just showed up for fun to Mr. Competitive, and Patti is just as competitive, if not maybe even more." 

Scott, who has a spinal cord injury, started RAAC in 2021 and said the group has grown to almost two dozen members who climb together every month. She's thrilled to see para climbing become a Paralympic sport and looks forward to seeing how it grows in Canada. 

In their day jobs, Terry works part time at Apple and owns a braille company and Patti is a dietitian at St. Joseph's Health Care London. They met when they were were students at Western University and have been married 33 years. 

They'll continue reaching for the top and will participate in their first competition of this year at the Canadian Nationals in Montreal next month, followed by the U.S. Nationals in Oakland, Calif.