Lucie Watillon

Lucie was born in Meux, Belgium in 2004. She began climbing at the age of 6 in a local climbing gym near Namur. As soon as she started climbing she knew this was what she wanted to do. “There aren’t climbers in my family—I discovered this sport by pure coincidence,” she says. “I feel lucky to have found my passion at this young age.” She quickly took up competitions and roped up for real rock in Freyr, Belgium’s most famous crag. In 2017 she became a member of the Belgian climbing team and started to compete in youth international competitions. Soon after, she made podiums in European cups and won her first international competition in 2021. While she was drawn to competitions, she didn’t shy away from outdoor climbing to complement her skill set. At the age of thirteen she went on a trip to Siurana where she sent one of the area’s most famous routes, Kale Boroka (8b+). “Climbing allows me live incredible experiences, discover magical places, and meet people all over the world,” she says. Although she considers herself a lead climber, Lucie also enjoys bouldering. Currently, she is preparing for her next goal, the Olympics. Lucie combines training sessions and competitions with rock climbing because it helps her find a balance in climbing.