The girl who could climb before she could walk: Teenager crowned the best female climber in the world




Daredevil teenager Sasha DiGiulian likes to hang out, literally, half a kilometre up over a plunging rock face.

The 19-year-old, from Washington DC, burst onto the climbing scene at the age of seven and is now the best female climber in world.

And the teenager admits she learnt how to climb before she could walk.



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Brave: Sasha DiGiulian dangles precariously off a cliff face in Oliana, Spain. The teenager has been crowned the best female climber in the world at the age of 19

Just hanging around: Sasha DiGiulian, the best female climber in the world, hangs off a cliff face in Red River Gorge, Kentucky 'I used to climb out out of my cot as a baby,' she said. 'I was a bit of a nuisance to my parents. 'Then I'd play "follow the leader" along monkey bars with other kids, trees, and eventually onto rock walls.' RELATED ARTICLES Previous

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Next Dodge tugs at the the heartstrings with a tribute to the... The scars left on American travelers who were robbed, beaten... Share this article Share Miss DiGiulian scooped her first world title as soon as she turned 18 on her first attempt.

She is also the youngest woman to have completed a coveted 5.14d graded climb - the hardest route achieved by any woman ever. No limits: Miss DiGiulian burst onto the climbing scene at the age of seven and scooped her first world title as soon as she turned 18 on her first attempt



Incredible: Sasha DiGiulian says she learnt how to climb before she could walk and has been topping the world of sport climbing since 2004

She is also the reigning US National Champion - scooping first place three years in a row.

In fact, she's been topping sport climbing since 2004 after remaining the undefeated Junior Pan American Champion from 2004 until she turned 18.

In her first year as an adult she took gold in the Climbing World Championships 2011 in Arco, Italy.



She is now ranked number one in the world for Female Outdoor Sport Climbing.

Young talent: Sasha DiGiulan (left) trains five days a week to get herself in shape for climbing and right Sasha climbing a cliff in Red River Gorge, Kentucky Tall order: When Sasha DiGuilian is not climbing cliff edges like this one in Margalef, Spain, she is a a student in New York

On the up: In her first year competing as an adult Sasha she took gold in the Climbing World Championships 2011 in Arco, Italy



Like a lizard she hauls her slender frame up impossible rock faces, using her 'no pain, no gain' mantra to push herself harder.

She said: 'I have good upper body strength and not really any excess weight, which helps,' she said.

'Rock can be very abrasive so I get bloody hands quite frequently, cutting them on the rocks.'

When she's not free climbing or bouldering, Miss DiGiulian studies Creative Writing at Columbia University, in New York.

But she takes on a gruelling training regime throughout the week to keep herself in shape for competitive and outdoor climbing.

Keeping her strength up: Miss DiGiulian eats a well-balanced diet and lots of fruit and vegetables to keep her in shape for climbing

Endurance: The rock can be very abrasive and leave the 19-year-old with bloody hands but that doesn't put off Miss DiGiulian who is now campaigning for climbing to be an Olympic sport Strength: Sasha is the youngest female to have successfully completed the hardest climbing route taken on by a woman - the 5.14d graded climb

Going places: Between climbing some of the most dangerous rock faces and university, Sasha is fighting for her biggest dream - to compete in an Olympic Games



'I train five days a week for two-to-three hours and cross train with biking and running.

'I generally eat a well-balanced healthy diet involving protein in every meal as well as a bountiful amount of vegetables and fruit.

'I also have a huge sweet tooth that I'm happy to indulge - as long as I am active.'

Between her climbing and university schedule, busy Sasha is also fighting for her biggest dream.