When 19-year-old Connor Lineen from Farrer decided to chase his sporting dreams on the other side of the world, he couldn't have anticipated the challenges that awaited him in Slovenia's freezing winter. Battling illness and cultural adjustment, the Canberra teenager persevered through a gruelling training regimen that ultimately paid off with a stunning victory at the Australian Lead Climbing Championships.
From Sick Bed to Championship Podium
In his first appearance at the national competition just over a week ago, Lineen produced what he described as "the best climb of my life" to upset several more-fancied opponents and claim the open championship title. His victory marked the first time in 13 years that a Canberra athlete has held this prestigious title in the Olympic sport of lead climbing.
"I just hit this flow state, and was able to execute all the moves in the right sequence," Lineen told The Canberra Times after his unexpected triumph. "When I realised I won it was just pure happiness and excitement. I couldn't believe it."
The European Training Grind
Lineen's championship success followed an intensive gap year spent training overseas after graduating from Canberra Grammar in December last year. The young climber used connections within Canberra's climbing community to link up with top Slovenian coach Klemen Kejzar in Ljubljana.
Despite experiencing "culture shock" adjusting to the reserved nature of Slovenians, Lineen committed to a rigorous training schedule during the height of winter. His dedication saw him spend five days each week training, including four-hour daily gym sessions focused on honing his technique.
The demanding regimen took its toll, with Lineen suffering multiple bouts of illness including flu and chest infections before returning to Australia in February. "As I've started to take my training more seriously, it becomes easier to get sick if you're not on top of recovery because you push your body so hard," he explained.
Olympic Dreams and Family Support
Undeterred by his health struggles, Lineen returned to Slovenia between July and September to continue working with his coach. His commitment to spending six months abroad without friends or family demonstrated the seriousness of his climbing ambitions.
Lineen credits his parents, both former successful athletes, for their unwavering support throughout his journey. His mother Trish was a swimmer while father Jono competed in skiing, and their experience has proven invaluable in guiding his sporting career.
The young champion now sets his sights on the ultimate prize in climbing. "Ultimately I want to go to the Olympics. It can't get much better than that," Lineen declared. "I'll aim for 2028 in Los Angeles, so we'll see what happens."
Lineen was one of five ACT climbers competing at the national championships, alongside Stephan Raevski, Gregory Raevski, Ada Reid and Samantha Howard. His victory serves as inspiration for Canberra's growing climbing community and demonstrates what can be achieved through dedication and international training experience.
