World Champion Climber: A Female Athlete, According to Austrian Award
Barbara "Babsi" Zangerl, a professional rock climber from Austria, has made history in the world of free climbing. In 2025, she was awarded the prestigious Paul Preuss Prize, becoming the second female climber to receive this honour. The award acknowledges her remarkable achievements, particularly her recent feat of being the first person to flash Freerider (5.13a), a 3,300-foot route on Yosemite's iconic El Capitan.
### Achievements
In November 2024, Zangerl achieved the unprecedented by flashing Freerider. This feat showcases her exceptional skill and endurance in tackling one of the most challenging routes in climbing. In addition to this, she has also repeated other notable routes in Yosemite, such as Magic Line (8c+).
Zangerl is hailed as the best all-round climber in the world, following in the footsteps of legendary climbers like Reinhold Messner and Dani Arnold. Her comprehensive skill set and groundbreaking climbs have solidified her position as a trailblazer in the sport.
### Background
Born in 1988 in Bludenz, Vorarlberg, and raised in Tyrol, Austria, Zangerl has established herself as a leader in the climbing community. Her dedication to extreme climbs worldwide has earned her the respect of the climbing community and the recognition of the International Paul Preuss Society.
The Paul Preuss Prize is named after Paul Preuss, known as the "father of free climbing." The award is dedicated to extraordinary achievement in this discipline, and Zangerl's accomplishments have solidified her position as a worthy recipient.
In 2023, Barbara Zangerl made the third-ever free ascent of Eternal Flame (5.13a), one of the hardest big walls in the world, located in a remote part of Pakistan. She also claimed the second free ascent of Magic Mushroom (5.14a), a 28-pitch route up El Capitan, along with partner Jacopo Larcher, in 2022. They managed to send the entire route in a single, no-falls push.
In the same year, Zangerl became only the fourth person to ever send Meltdown (5.14c), one of the world's most difficult trad climbs. This climb further solidified her reputation as one of the best climbers in the world.
The maxim of Paul Preuss, the namesake of the award, was, "Ability is the measure of permissibility." Zangerl's career embodies this philosophy, as she categorically rejects climbing aids and accepts them only as a safety measure. Since the prize began in 2013, Zangerl is only the second female recipient after 2021 awardee Catherine Destivelle.
The perfect ascent earned a documentary treatment from Reel Rock, with 'Flashed' telling the story of this historic moment. In November of last year, Babsi Zangerl, 36, made headlines as the first person to ever flash a route on Yosemite's most famous formation, El Capitan.
Zangerl's journey in free climbing is an inspiration to many, and her achievements continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in the sport.
Barbara Zangerl's 2024 flash of Freerider, a 3,300-foot route on Yosemite's El Capitan, showcased her skill and endurance in the realm of health-and-wellness, furthering her acclaim in the sports sector. Her groundbreaking climbs, such as the achievement of flashing Freerider, have solidified her position as a trailblazer in women's health, particularly in the science-oriented field of extreme sports.
