My Climbing Injury Changed Everything — 5 Months Later

Five months ago I fell during a normal climbing session and seriously injured my elbow. One ligament was completely torn and two others were partially torn. In a moment everything changed, and I didn’t know if I would ever climb the same way again. In this video I share the full story of the last five months: the rehab, the setbacks, and the small victories along the way. Early in the recovery I had to completely change the way I climbed. I spent time climbing with one arm, training in the kids’ wall, and focusing on technique, footwork, heel hooks and toe hooks instead of strength. During the rehab process I also got guidance from climbing coach Gudmund Grønhaug, who encouraged me to focus on coming back stronger in other areas while rebuilding strength in the injured arm. He also explained that once my strength tests returned to the same level as before the injury, it would be a good indication that the elbow had fully healed and that I could start pushing harder again. I also traveled to Oslo to see climbing physiotherapist Torbjørn Størkersen, who helped me with specific rehab exercises and a structured program to rebuild strength and stability in the elbow. I followed these exercises several times per week with full focus and motivation. At the same time something unexpected happened — I rediscovered running, a sport I loved earlier in life but hadn’t been able to pursue seriously for many years. Running gave me a new sense of progress and motivation while climbing recovery was slow. Around three to four months after the injury I started pushing harder in the climbing gym again. Mentally this turned out to be one of the most difficult phases of recovery. Seeing how much strength and confidence I had lost, comparing myself to my pre-injury level, and watching other climbers progress was tough. Now, five months later, I’m still rebuilding. Some days feel strong, others don’t. I’m climbing again, working on strength, doing endurance training, and running more than I have in years. At the same time I’m trying to figure out how to balance both sports moving forward. This video is about injury, recovery, identity in sport, and what it really feels like to come back after a serious climbing injury. If you’ve ever gone through an injury as an athlete or climber, you might recognize some of these feelings. Climbing Center: Høyt Under Taket Tønsberg og Fredrikstad Buldresenter Music by: Epidemic Sound _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Chapters: 00:00 Climbing Injury Update — 5 Months Later 01:25 Learning to Climb With One Arm 02:23 Coach Advice: Training After Injury 03:27 Climbing Rehab & Physio Exercises 04:12 Rediscovering Running 05:27 The Hardest Part of Coming Back 07:03 Where I Am Now — My Climbing Comeback