Monday 26 September 2022 A student from The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) who won a prestigious European climbing competition in Austria this summer, is now looking forward to moving up to new challenges. Representing Team GB, climber Dayan Akhtar (GSAL22), 18, from Alwoodley, came first at the European Youth Bouldering Championship in Graz, Austria on 6 August. His gold medal followed him finishing 11th in the European Youth Lead Climbing Championship in Augsburg, Germany earlier in the summer. Just recently, Dayan moved onto the world stage representing GB in both the bouldering and lead climbing disciplines in Dallas at the Youth World Championships on 22-31 August and finishing an impressive 6th overall. After his spectacular summer of climbing, Dayan, also achieved a strong set of A-level results and he will be taking up a place at Leeds Beckett University to study sports and exercise science. Dayan said: “I’ve had a very busy but exciting summer. I flew to the European Championships just two days after sitting my last A-level exam and received my results just as I boarded the plane for the World Championships in Dallas! Balancing my studies with training and competitions has been tough but my teachers have been amazing and helped me a great deal.” We wish Dayan well in his studies, his imminent move from youth to senior climbing competitions and his preparation for selection for the Olympics in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028. Image credit: Achim Reinbacher General Senior School Sixth Form Alumni News Whole School
