Steve McClure (born 25 July 1970) is widely regarded as one of Britain’s foremost and most influential climbers, having sustained a remarkable career that spans over two decades. His prominence began in the late 1990s, and he continues to climb at an elite level well into his 50s. Notably, in 2017, Steve completed the first ascent of ‘Rainman’, the first and only 9b (5.15b) sport route in Britain. By that time, he had already established the majority of England’s hardest routes, grading 9a and above. While primarily known for sport climbing, Steve has also achieved significant success in trad climbing, with ascents up to E11 and onsights up to E8.

“Half a century of climbing! Surely anyone would get tired of it after so long? But no, our beautiful sport keeps us hooked with twists and turns in surprising directions, always inspiring, always motivating. My journey began as soon as I could walk—maybe even before—with my parents leading the way: sandstone, grit, limestone, granite. It was all about movement, performance wasn’t part of the equation. There was no training, no indoor walls, no fingerboards, training plans, competitions, volumes, or even the desire to ‘train.’ It was all about the puzzle of nature—how to use what it offered. This was the perfect start. I was psyched, completely absorbed.

Those old hardcopy magazines are a timeline of my youth; the pictures and front-covers burned into my mind stronger than any childhood party. Ben Moon, Jerry Moffat, Johnny Dawes…”

Sport climbing hit the headlines in the 1980s, marked by neon lycra, way-out hairstyles, and off-the-chart grades. 8a (5.13b) was the pinnacle then—the hardest in the world. For a young McClure, it seemed impossible—but that didn’t stop him from dreaming.

Coming from a background rooted in trad climbing, where nerves of steel and gear placement were paramount, Steve was a relatively latecomer to sport climbing. Yet he quickly made up for lost time. At age 25, in 1995, he climbed his first 8a, followed by 8c (5.14b) in 1996, and a groundbreaking 9a+ (5.15a) in 1998. It was a transformative period, where his years of technique and tenacity combined with his new physical potential. 8a and above was no longer a dream; it became a reality. By 2023, Steve has completed more than a thousand routes at that level.

“Now, at age 53, I still feel as strong, but the physical decline must be coming. The key will be to maximise my strength, hold on to what I have, and remain as uninjured as possible. This takes education, I can’t just muddle on hoping for the best. I’ll need strong shoulders, core tension, careful finger training, and well-timed energy system work. I’ll need expert help and advice to take me to 60 and beyond. And here we are! Thank you Lattice!”

With an enduring love for climbing and a commitment to refining his approach, Steve McClure remains an icon in the climbing community, showing that even after decades of pushing the limits, there’s always more to achieve.