By:
Chimera
But sometimes, those goals can take a climber far, far beyond what they ever dreamed possible.
For Livvy Gent, taking up climbing as a kid alongside her brothers has taken her from fun and games at Chimera, to incredible outdoor projects and now, all the way to Team GB.
“I first started climbing around Easter 2016 when I was eight years old,” Livvy explained. “My brothers introduced me after they tried it and thought I’d enjoy it.”
Her brothers were right – Livvy took to climbing, her natural talent shining through from word go. Tied to a strong work ethic, Livvy soon motored through the grades – and started to send some very impressive blocs outside.
“My first big project was probably Mr Poppers 7C in Fontainebleau. I enjoyed the slow process of projecting, which then makes the send even more special,” Livvy continued.
”Those early days in the forest laid the foundation of patience, persistence, and the willingness to keep coming back until the climb went.
“I was so relieved when it went – but back then, I didn’t realise the magnitude of what I’d done. I was just enjoying the climb!”
Livvy enjoyed her outdoor climbing so much, she chose to focus on that through her teenage years, climbing everywhere from Portland to the Peak, North Wales and further afield in Europe.
You could not keep her off the rock, and Livvy’s impressive send list grew and grew. She still used Chimera as her training base and occasionally came out of ‘retirement’ to show off her skills at Chimera’s own competitions. But there was something nagging at the back of her mind, and she realised how much she enjoyed competing in front of a crowd.
In January 2024, Livvy opted to return to training with a renewed focus and goal. She was going to specifically train for competitions again, rather than outdoors and see where it took her.
And it took her all the way to Team GB trials in January 2025...
Livvy went to the trials with no expectations, in a relaxed frame of mind. And that attitude paid off.
“Getting into GB this year was a shock for me,” she added. “In my eyes, it was an unrealistic goal. The January before I made a New Year’s resolution to start training and competing again after years off.”
That determination earned her a place on the GB Youth Climbing Team.
“Putting on the kit definitely made it all feel a bit more real,” Livvy added.
This year saw Livvy travel to new countries across Europe, step into new arenas, and test herself against the best in her age category. She went in with no expectations bar enjoying the competitions, and as the season wore on her results just got better and better.
“I really loved going out and competing in countries I’d never been to before. I went into the season with no expectations – just to learn and do my best. Making finals stands out most for me as it was so unexpected.”
Livvy’s first season saw her make the finals of a Youth European Cup, finishing in eighth place.
“When I found out I made finals I wanted to just go out with confidence, not get too nervous, and enjoy climbing on cool boulders. I was happy to finish eighth and to end my first international season on a positive.”
It takes serious commitment to compete at this level, to maintain fitness, stay in condition, avoid injury and work your weaknesses. For Livvy, that means six days of climbing and training, and one rest day. The life of a professional athlete is not for everyone and takes a lot of sacrifice.
“The Kilter board is probably my favourite to have a session on,” Livvy explains about her training regime, which now includes sessions at Chimera Chatham, to take advantage of their different facilities.
But like every climber, she has her weaknesses.
“I’d say slab climbing is a weakness of mine which I’m slowly improving at. My shins will thank me for it,” she says with a laugh.
“But improvements there are a good reminder that I’m going in the right direction. Making smaller goals also helps me stay motivated and driven, without any pressure from thinking about the bigger goals.”
And through it all, Chimera remains her home base.
“Chimera was where I first started climbing and I’ve always had great support from everyone there ever since I was so young. It’s great to be part of a community with lots of psyched people to train with – it is always more fun with others who make you try a bit harder.”
So, what is next?
“My goal for now is to get back into the team again next year from the trials in January, as I’m also going up into the U21s category,” Livvy explains. “I would love to be selected for internationals again – getting to European Cups is a goal for me.”
But it is not all about competitions. Outdoor projects are on the horizon toon, and legendary GOAT Janja Garnbret has shown how it is possible to combine outdoor goals with indoor competitions.
“I’d like to visit Magic Wood at some point and try Foxy Lady. Eventually I’d love to do lots of outdoor climbing and see how hard I can climb. But for now, I need to balance that with my GB aspirations.”
Despite her achievements, Livvy remains down to earth and inspired by those around her.
“I have lots of climbers I look up to – whether team mates, friends, or strong locals at the gym, plus my brothers of course. Anyone who pushes their limits and has that dedication really inspires me. And of course, Janja is on that list.”
Her advice for the next generation is simple but powerful.
“Make sure you keep enjoying it – it’s going to be hard to keep it up if it isn’t fun anymore,” she explains, a mature head on still such young shoulders.
“Try hard and don’t give up. If it was easy, it wouldn’t be as meaningful. Oh, and you can always try harder than you think you can!”
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