ATLANTA — From sibling rivalries to shared victories, one family's journey from casual climbers to one of them becoming an Olympic contender is a testament to the power of family support and a love for the sport.
Meet the Hunt family, home of the first U.S. Olympic Speed Climber, Emma Hunt.
It all started at the mall.
One day, Emma Hunt's father, Keith Hunt, found himself on the climbing wall at a shopping mall and "just loved it," since then, it's been a family hobby.
"I was doing martial arts and everything and attracted to things that were difficult and I was like, 'Oh, how hard can it be?'" Keith Hunt said. "And it was really humbling to try and climb up that wall and like, 'Wow, this is really hard.'"
The sport brought the family closer, with Emma beginning competition at 5 years old. She wasn't alone on the road to winning either, with her brother continuing to compete alongside her.
"It was always together," Emma said. "We did family trips for climbing. It was just that everything was climbing."
Watch the full interview with Emma and her brother below
Climbing quickly became an integral part of the Hunt family's identity, with regular trips to the gym and outdoor climbing excursions cementing their shared love for the sport.
"Emma started getting really good speed climbing, and it was definitely very intimidating," Ethan said, adding later, "She started getting really good really fast and eventually overtook me."
Despite occasional sibling rivalries, particularly during training sessions, their connection strengthened over the years, fueled by a shared passion for the sport. Ethan has since stopped speed climbing but continues bordering and leading.
Watch the full interview with Emma's parents below
As Emma's climbing prowess blossomed, so did the family's collective ambition. Ethan recalls pivotal moments, such as Emma's victories at national competitions, which marked significant milestones in their journey towards Olympic qualification.
"It was really big," he said. "Speed climbing really wasn't a thing at the gym we were at."
The category is under rock climbing, but speed climbing itself only made it to the Olympics in the 2020 Summer Games. And this year, Emma is the first U.S. athlete to qualify for the sport in the 2024 Paris Games.
With Emma's selection for the Paris Olympics, the entire Hunt family is gearing up for an unforgettable experience. From cheering her on at competitions to providing unwavering support throughout her training, they have been her pillars of strength every step of the way.
"I'm just really proud of her for finding something she loves and figuring out how to make it happen," Jennifer Hunt, Emma's mother, said.
