The Praj effect

Fifteen-year-old elite sport climber Praj dela Cruz won an impressive two gold medals at the Pilipinas Climbing, Inc. National Championships last week. Under the guidance of her father, former mountain climber Bidz dela Cruz, she claimed her third consecutive title in women’s elite bouldering, and her first in lead climbing, which is new territory for the teen.

There were additional challenges along the way. The venue’s air-conditioning was not functioning properly, causing the hands of the climbers to perspire, making it difficult to hold. Bidz had to find a dehydrating solution for his daughter’s hands. It worked, but the absence of moisture also caused the skin on Praj’s fingers to crack, making it challenging to even bend her digits. The elder Dela Cruz had to search for a moisturizer to prevent further damage to her hands.

In the lead climbing final, some competitors and parents questioned the technicality of her win. An X tape marked the last hold for the climb, but given Praj’s height, she also reached for another hold while still hanging on to the last prescribed hold.

“It’s the last position to clip,” Bidz told The STAR and DWAN 1206 AM. “Because Praj is tall, she was coming from a small box (a compressed or bent position) and swung outside. So she has to catch herself on the next hold past the X tape. But her left hand never left the last hold.”

The teams of some of the other participants questioned the maneuver, but the proper process to evaluate the strategy was followed, with the officials and jury confirming that it was valid. Days later, PCI sent out an online feedback form for participants.

Dela Cruz has already made so much progress in her youth. Last year, she earned a bronze medal at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, the country’s first podium finish in sport climbing since the year she was born. As an 11-year-old, she won two golds and a silver at the International Federation of Sport Climbing Asian Kids’ Championship in India.

Meanwhile, the pair flew back to Texas in the US where they are based, to resume training for the Youth World Cup in Arco, Italy and continue the campaign to qualify for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. And issues like the Nationals are just part of relationships between athletes.

“Relationships between athletes are dynamic. It’ not as if you’re never going to talk to that person again,” Praj says. “That’s your sibling. And to know that that person has the same passion for the sport as you do, it’s electrifying to me to know that. It empowers me. And being teammates with these people is amazing. No matter how they feel that day, I’m going to support them.”

Praj dela Cruz has sacrificed so much for her sport, and acknowledges that there is still much to accomplish, while her father has also given up a lot to guide her career. At this point, it is difficult to imagine any other outcome than her continuing to win.