“I’m doing what I love. It’s really cool to be able to do my academic passions and climbing passions at the same time,” says Zach Hammer, Olympic speed climber and Environmental Science student at the University of Utah. Zach has been rock climbing since the age of three, quickly improving his skills on the slab and competing at the international level as early as a sophomore in high school. He moved to Salt Lake City immediately after graduating high school to train more seriously at the USA Climbing National Training Center, determined to chase his big dreams of becoming one of the greatest names in the sport of speed climbing. Upon enrolling at the U, Zach would begin a new and exciting journey as both a full-time student and award-winning athlete.
Hailing from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zach began climbing shortly after his older brother discovered the sport’s competitive nature. Instantly hooked, he grew heavily involved in the sport. Zach joined youth programs with his brother and sister, practiced multiple days a week, and participated in local events and competitions. He specialized in speed climbing at sixteen before graduating high school early and ultimately deciding to relocate to Salt Lake City to train with renowned Olympic coaching staff while earning a degree at the University of Utah.
In speed climbing, muscle memory and power are the paths to success. How quickly can you climb up a 15-meter wall with a 5-degree overhang? More importantly, can you ascend faster than your competitors? It’s key to note that the Olympic speed climbing route is the same exact course, every single time. Same holds. Same angles. Same locations. Standardized to a T. In the qualification round, each athlete has two opportunities to record their best time to qualify for finals.
“When I’m climbing, I have no thoughts in my mind. How fast can I pull? How strong am I? How powerful am I?” shares Zach.
Competing with some of the best climbers in the world provided Zach the challenge of facing failure, one which he conquered to become one of the greatest speed climbers in the sport. Throughout his first year on the international circuit, preliminary stages across the globe led to double slips, disqualifications, and disappointment. But he kept trying. After another year of intensive training and thousands of reps, and with a fiery spirit unwilling to give up, he did it. Zach topped out with a successful qualifying time to move on to his first finals appearance and begin the next stage of his climbing career. The lesson? No matter how bleak the circumstances, with perseverance and a desire to succeed, anything is possible.
“The world record is 4.6 seconds. It comes down to less than 5 seconds determining your career dream, so you have to be very present and very okay with the concept of failure. It’s okay to fail. I’ve learned so much from it.”
However, “Once you’ve felt those emotions, take a step back and go at it again. I really love what I do. I love the process of getting better at climbing, so it never feels like hard work, right? I want to win the Olympics. I want to do all these crazy things in my sport, but at the end of the day, as long as I’m loving what I’m doing, then I’ll be happy.”
His sheer love for climbing paves the way for his success, giving him opportunities to grow at every step in his competitive climbing career and beyond.
Fortunately for Zach, and many other students chasing dreams of their own, the University of Utah supports students in achieving both academic and personal goals. With this flexibility, Zach can face international competitors while keeping up with his studies. He has also done his fair share of strengthening relationships with his professors, claiming they have been some of his greatest supporters along the way. With Zach’s expansive network of students and professors at the U, fellow Olympians, and climbers all over the world, he represents many different communities on the Olympic stage and is proud to do so.
Zach Hammer has worked hard to succeed in his climbing competitions and in the classroom, and while you might not have Olympic dreams, you can apply these skills as you pursue a degree at the University of Utah: chase what you love, embrace failure, truly believe in yourself, and you’ll accomplish goals you never thought possible. As Zach trains for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California, he will continue to complete his Environmental Science degree at the University of Utah, alongside thousands of other U students going for their own gold.