Alex Puccio facts for kids
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Alex Puccio at the Boulder Worldcup Finals 2017 in Munich, Germany
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| Nationality | American | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | June 15, 1989 McKinney, Texas |
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| Height | 5 ft 2 in (2013) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 117 lb (2015) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Climbing career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of climber | Bouldering | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest grade |
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Medal record
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| Updated on 18 March 2013. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alex Puccio (born Alexandrea Elizabeth Cocca on June 15, 1989, in McKinney, Texas) is a famous American professional climber. She is especially good at bouldering, which is a type of climbing done on large rocks or short walls without ropes. Alex competes in climbing events and also enjoys climbing outdoors. She has won many awards, including the American Bouldering Series eleven times. She also placed third overall in the World Cup bouldering competition in 2011 and 2013. In 2014, she earned second place in the Climbing World Championship for bouldering.
Contents
Alex's Climbing Journey
Alex Puccio started climbing in 2002 when she was thirteen years old. Her mom introduced her to the sport. In 2006, she entered the U.S. Bouldering Championships for the first time and won! She continued to win this title in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013.
Competing on the World Stage
Alex began competing in the World Cup bouldering events in 2008. By 2011, she was a regular on the podium, earning three second-place finishes and two third-place finishes. She became a consistent finalist in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup circuit. This means she often made it to the final rounds of these big international competitions.
Amazing Outdoor Climbs
Alex is known for climbing very difficult boulders outdoors. She has completed over twenty-four boulders graded V12 (8A+) in both the United States and Europe. Climbing a V12 boulder is extremely challenging and requires incredible strength and skill.
In July 2014, Alex climbed Top Notch in Rocky Mountain National Park. This was her first V13 (8B) graded boulder. Just one month later, she climbed Jade, becoming only the fourth woman ever to climb a V14 boulder. These are some of the hardest climbs in the world!
Overcoming Injuries
Alex has faced some tough injuries but always bounced back stronger.
- In June 2015, she hurt her knee during a World Cup competition. She needed surgery for torn ligaments. Doctors thought she would be out for many months. However, she was back climbing V13 boulders by October 2015! This showed her amazing determination.
- In June 2016, Alex had surgery on her spine for a herniated disk. She had felt pain and weakness in her arms during a competition. Despite this serious injury, she recovered and continued to climb at a high level.
- In December 2016, just six months after her spinal surgery, she climbed Terre De Sienne, a V13 boulder at Hueco Tanks. This was her 15th climb of that difficulty, proving her incredible comeback.
In February 2016, she won the Hueco Tanks 'Rock Rodeo'. This event brings together top climbers from around the world. Her win proved she was still in top form. During that trip, she also completed three V13 boulders, which was a record for any female climber in one week.
Alex's Competition Success
Alex Puccio is considered America's most successful female bouldering competitor. She has won the ABS National Championship eleven times. She has also been the top American female bouldering competitor in international IFSC events.
World Cup Medals
Alex has won many medals in the bouldering World Cup events:
- She won gold medals at the Vail World Cup in 2009 and 2018.
- In 2014, she earned a gold medal at the Arco Rockmaster event.
- She also won a silver medal in the World Championships for bouldering in 2014.
Her total World Cup medals include 2 gold, 4 silver, and 8 bronze medals, making a total of 14 medals.
Images for kids
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Alex Puccio at the Boulder Worldcup Finals 2017 in Munich, Germany
See also
In Spanish: Alex Puccio para niños
- List of grade milestones in rock climbing
- History of rock climbing
- Angie Payne, American bouldering climber
