Yasmin Gahtani is what you would call a “firecracker.” Petite, bold and unapologetically herself. She just sparks inspiration. And as we sit down together for what I expect to be a standard conversation centered around female empowerment and male biases in the sports arena, she already throws me off with an unfiltered honesty that you would only expect from your closest, childhood friend.
“It actually started after my divorce,” she candidly replies when I ask how her passion for climbing giant rocks started. “Life after divorce can make a person feel vulnerable and insecure,” explains the single mother of twin toddlers.
“I wanted to be an example to my children by showing them resilience; and no matter what challenges we face in life, we have to stay strong, focused, and climb through these challenges with confidence.”
But the experienced climber confesses she had tried various sports before finally deciding to pursue climbing professionally.
“Nothing I have ever tried in my life made me feel the way climbing does. The mental, emotional, and physical change that it brings is something very hard to put into words. It stimulates all these parts that makes it very addictive.”
Participating in a country, where climbing only became recognized as an official sport in 2018, didn’t stop the ambitious athlete.
“In the beginning, the public in Saudi Arabia was unfamiliar with the sport. They couldn’t comprehend why anyone, regardless of gender, would want to engage in climbing and take it seriously.” Thankfully, Gahtani had supportive parents, who encouraged her athletic pursuit.
“Male climbers in Saudi Arabia have never placed gender as a barrier to engage in climbing. In fact, my climbing buddies, who are mostly men, have always encouraged the females to push their limits more, and are proud to see more women climb with them.”
She adds, “Nowadays, with more awareness around the sport in the Kingdom, even the public find it appealing to know that women are passionate about climbing.”
“Because that was when outdoor development happened and people were able to learn and practice. Before that, we were literally less than. I actually had to travel quite often to Europe just so I can climb, which was very inconvenient.”
“Now, there is a large community of climbers scattered all over the country, they travel around the Kingdom during the weekends for climbing meet-ups and hangouts. The community took climbing with so much passion and ownership, that they have become the most important asset to evolve the sport in the country.”
As the managing director of the Saudi Climbing and Hiking Federation (SCHF), Gahtani’s role is to develop the sport in all aspects, including recreationally and competitively.
“A lot of people are unaware that sport climbing is an Olympic sport. As part of the Saudi Vision 2030, our country’s aim is to have as many professional athletes in various sports as possible, and this is where my role comes in for climbing. Our goal is to have elite athletes to represent the Kingdom internationally.”
And why not? Saudi’s unique and diverse landscape seems to be the perfect arena for the sport of competitive climbing. We’ve already seen NEOM develop dedicated climbing routes for both novice and experienced climbers alike.
“Typically, a country has one common rock type; like, for instance, in the South of Europe, which is a very popular destination for climbing, has limestone. However, in Saudi Arabia, we have granite, limestone, and sandstone. Each requires a certain style of climbing, which makes the country a unique place that we hope international climbers will come to explore. I have no doubt that Saudi will be a hot destination in the near future.”
In closing, I ask Gahtani what advice she may have for any little girl who is being told, No, that’s just for boys! And her response is exactly what you would expect from a woman, who herself has had to fight off gender expectations.
“It is very important to teach our girls to explore, experience and try. That is the only way to really understand ourselves and know what we are capable of, and what we want in life as we grow.
I would encourage every girl to not listen to anyone who wants to stop her from trying.”
And then, after a quick pause–perhaps the first in this entire conversation, she adds:
“To me it is not about proving something to others, but to actually fulfill a desire within yourself. In the end, what matters most is how you see yourself, and eventually people will accept you for who you are.”
Photography by Mokhtar Chahine
Stylist Haala AlKhereiji
Produced by Saudi Style Council
Creative Direction Marriam Mossalli
Art Director Athbah Al Maghlouth
Make up Buthina AlShuhail
Hair Hanaa Abdelwase for Future Salon
Production Manager Ranyah Seraj
Assistant Production Jory Almaiman