French teen Mejdi Schalck: From climbing up trees to ascending the world climbing scene

Mejdi Schalck has undoubtedly positioned himself as one of France's greatest talents in sport climbing.

The 19-year-old had a breakthrough 2023 season, winning two World Cup events in boulder and a silver medal at the IFSC Climbing World Championships.

“It's a bit crazy because it came so fast," Schalck told Olympics.com. “Three years ago, I was just doing national comps. It was a dream, but I didn't expect that it would come so fast. It’s very cool and one of my big dreams coming true.”

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Mejdi Schalck: “My mom was very scared”

Schalk began his climbing adventures far from big climbing venues.

He grew up in Paris, and got hooked on the the sport at an early age.

“When I was five years old, I was climbing in a tree in the park around my home. My mum was very scared because I was climbing this tree all the time, so she got me into a climbing club, and then I never stopped,” Schalck said.

“Sport climbing is very addictive. I think the process of progression is very addictive. There's always new moves, new things that arrive and when you progress you just feel unstoppable.”

In the early years of climbing, Schalk had no ambition to reach World Cup podiums. He was just enjoying climbing 'freestyle', as he called it, but soon the Frenchman realised that he had talent and potential to achieve a lot in his sport.

Mejdi Schalck: Sharing a podium with his idol at 16

The French teenager, now living in Grenoble, enjoyed a rapid rise to the top of the sport climbing scene.

He claimed his maiden IFSC World Cup medal in May 2021, standing next to climbers he had never imagined to meet, but had looked up to for years.

“I was on my first podium with Adam Ondra when I was 16," Schalk said of the five-time world champion from Czechia. "Since I was a child, I've been watching videos of him every day. I’m a big fan of him and now being [next to] him is just crazy.

“But it doesn’t have to limit you when facing him because it’s your idol. In the comps, you just know everything is possible.”

Mejdi Schalck's Olympic wish: “It's a big dream doing comp where I grew up"

Ondra and Schalck have competed against each other several times since 2021, and they will be battling again this week for the sole Paris 2024 quota in the men's competition that is on offer at the 2023 European Boulder & Lead Climbing Olympic Qualifier in Laval, France.

Although Schalck has yet to secure his spot at next year’s Olympics, he has high hopes for the climbing event that will take place less than 10 kilometres from where he spent the formative years of his climbing life at the Le Bourget Climbing Centre.

“It's a big dream doing comp where I grew up. When I think about it, I get goosebumps. It would be a big achievement of all my training if I qualify,” Schalk said.

You can follow the 2023 European Boulder & Lead Climbing Olympic Qualifier in Laval live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices (territorial restrictions may apply).