From September 26 to 27, 2014, Adidas held the 2014 ROCKSTARS China competition at Century Square on East Nanjing Road in Shanghai. Following the launch of China’s first world-class outdoor rock climbing event in 2013, Adidas once again built a competitive and networking platform for both domestic and international climbers and enthusiasts. At the event, Green Field Network interviewed Adidas-sponsored athlete Sasha Digiulian, who came specially to add excitement to the event and is regarded as a “goddess” by many climbing enthusiasts — she is known as the Angel of the Cliffs.
Q: How do you feel about joining adidas?
A: I signed with Adidas in 2011. It’s a great outdoor company, and I really like it. All of Adidas’s sponsored athletes are fantastic—it feels like one big family. I hope to have even better collaboration with Adidas in the future.
Q: How did you get started with climbing?
A: When I was six years old, my brother held a birthday party at a local climbing gym, and that’s how I got introduced to climbing.
Q: Any interesting stories from coming to Shanghai for the Adidas climbing festival?
A: This is my first time in Shanghai, and I can only stay for one day, so I find it quite regrettable. I hope to be able to stay longer next time.
Q: Who is your idol?
A: My friends and my family are my biggest idols.
Q: Do you have any new plans for this year?
A: Next, I’m going to Spain. As you know, I’ve climbed a 9A route, but there are more 9A routes in Spain, so I want to go there for more challenges.
Q: There will be an interactive PK session with Chinese participants tonight — can you talk about that?
A: Yes, I’m very happy to be able to compete on the same stage with another Adidas-sponsored athlete tonight. I’m really looking forward to it and hope to put on a good performance.
Q: How do you feel about the whole competition?
A: This is my first time in Shanghai, China. I’ve been to the Adidas ROCKSTARS in Korea and Germany before. I think this one in China has much better turnout and atmosphere compared to the other two. The audience in Shanghai is incredibly enthusiastic and passionate, which made a huge impact on me. The weather in Shanghai was also great, unlike in Korea where I encountered heavy rain. So I think the ROCKSTARS in China is the best one I’ve been to so far.
About Sasha Digiulian:
She started climbing at age 7, won the overall women's title at the 2011 Acro Climbing World Championships in Italy—becoming the biggest dark horse of the competition; in October, she redpointed a 9a route, Pure Imagination (“纯美的想象”), at Red River Gorge in Kentucky, USA, which was her first 9a and the third-ever recorded female ascent of a 9a route globally. As of January 2013, she had completed over 60 routes graded 8a and above, including 2 routes at 9a and 2 at 8c+.