Shoreview native climbs to Olympic competition

Minnesota's climbing community has reason to celebrate as the Olympic Games get underway in Tokyo later this week.

• The sport's first year as an Olympic event will feature Kyra Condie, a Shoreview native who got her start at a local Vertical Endeavors gym.

The backstory: Condie, 25, started climbing at 11, after attending a birthday party at VE's St. Paul location.

• She overcame spinal surgery in her quest to become a world-class rock climber.

What they're saying: "To have one of four athletes in the U.S. and one of two women (on the inaugural climbing team) be from Minnesota, it's a special badge of honor," Tracy Paino, vice president of Vertical Endeavors, told Axios.

• "You don't usually associate Minnesota as a climbing destination, but lo and behold, we have someone who is homegrown."

🧗‍♀️ Get a preview of Condie's skill — and speed — on her Instagram page.