Just one year ago, Erin McNeice stood among the world’s best at the Paris 2024 Olympics, placing fifth in the combined Boulder and Lead discipline. It was a breakthrough moment not just for British climbing, but for the 20-year-old athlete herself.

And she hasn’t slowed down since.

Now deep into the 2025 World Cup season, Erin has not only maintained that momentum, she has built on it. With six World Cup medals already this year, including three golds and a recent bronze in Chamonix, she has secured her place as one of the top all-round competition climbers in the world.

The Season Begins: Asia and a Statement

The season opened in April at the Keqiao Boulder World Cup in China, where Erin claimed bronze. It was a solid start, but what followed would define her year.

At the Wujiang Lead World Cup, Erin climbed her way into a dramatic tie for gold with South Korea’s Chaehyun Seo. It was her first Lead medal on the world stage, and just one week later, she proved it was no accident. In Bali, she secured another gold after topping the finals route in front of an electric crowd.

“I was really proud of how I managed the pressure,” Erin said. “I needed to top the route to win, and I did.”

That medal felt especially significant. Erin had spent part of her childhood in Asia, and returning to that part of the world to win felt like coming full circle.

The Midseason Shift: Europe and Its Tests

By June, the World Cup circuit moved to Europe, bringing a different kind of challenge.

In Prague, Erin qualified for finals in fourth, but the round was cancelled due to severe weather. “It was frustrating,” she said, “but I just had to move on.” And that she did.

Only days later, at the Bern Boulder World Cup, Erin found her fire. In a focused and confident performance, she claimed her first Boulder World Cup gold,  making history as the first British woman to win a gold in both disciplines. She just happened to do it in the same season.

“One moment it was a life goal,” she said. “And the next, it had been achieved.”

At Innsbruck, she faced a mental and physical hurdle. A tired boulder performance left her in sixteenth. But with less than 24 hours to reset before Lead qualifications, Erin regrouped, shifted her mindset and took bronze. Her family were in the crowd to see it live.

“They’d never seen me get a World Cup medal in person before. That made it all the more special.”

Building Consistency and Confidence

Heading into 2025, Erin had just one World Cup medal to her name. This year alone, she has now stood on the podium six times: golds in Wujiang, Bali and Bern, bronzes in Keqiao, Innsbruck and Chamonix.

With every performance, she is proving not only her talent but her consistency.

“In 2024, I was just about making finals. This year, I’ve made six and medalled in five. I feel like I’ve levelled up — mentally and physically.”

That leap has not come without challenges. Erin has had to learn how to manage the pressure of success.

“I didn’t expect the amount of pressure I would put on myself. Once I started getting medals, I felt like I had to keep delivering. But now, I’m trying to focus on the performance itself, not just the result.”

Training, Travel and Finding the Fight

Erin has been working closely with Ollie Torr on structuring high quality Lead sessions around her comp schedule. With limited time between events, recovery has been just as important as intensity.

When she is back in the UK, she trains in person with Rachel Carr and works on conditioning with Tom Parkington. On the road, the Lattice app and portable fingerboard help her stay consistent and flexible with her training.

But one of the biggest changes this season has been mental.

“I’ve started treating training like a comp. The fight I find in those moments feels different. It’s something I’ve been learning to access more often.”Erin credits Lattice mindset coach Flo Tilley for helping her sharpen that mindset. “Flo’s support has made a huge difference. I can recover mid-round now. I believe I belong. That confidence is everything.”

What’s Next for Erin McNeice

With Madrid, Koper and the World Championships still to come, Erin is both excited and nervous.

“I care a lot about these comps. I’ve always dreamed of winning an overall Lead title. We’ll see, it’s still open.”

And while that goal is firmly in sight, there’s something even bigger waiting down the line.

Looking to Los Angeles

It is early to talk about the next Olympic Games. But Erin’s track record speaks for itself.

With a top five finish at Paris 2024, multiple World Cup golds across Boulder and Lead, and a growing reputation for mental strength under pressure, Erin McNeice is fast becoming one of the best competition climbers in the world.

Could she bring home a medal at Los Angeles 2028?

Maybe. But for now, she’s staying grounded.

“I remind myself to enjoy it and try my best,” she says. “In the end, that’s all I can do.”

Whatever comes next, Erin’s story is still being written, one route, one round, one breakthrough at a time.