A short introduction to me

I am Fré Leys a Belgian engineer and paraclimber. I started climbing in 2014 and began competing internationally in 2016. In 2021, I became vice world champion in the leg amputee category. A few months ago, it was announced that paraclimbing will debut as a Paralympic sport in 2028.

This news sparked a fire in me—I’m determined not only to qualify but to win. Achieving that goal will demand perseverance, a smart and balanced approach, and, most importantly, find the winner within me. So far, I haven’t fully found that winner’s mentality, but I’m ready to dig deep to uncover it.

Will you become a Freddy?…

This journey won’t be easy. There will be challenges, setbacks, and plenty of moments where quitting might feel tempting. That’s why I’ll need a team—people who believe in me, support me, and help me push through the tough times that are inevitable in a challenge of this magnitude. These people are my Freddies.

What to expect

This blog serves as an honest diary of ups and downs describing my journey to become the first paralympic champion in climbing. I plan to post every two weeks and from time to time I might interview some interesting people or even do a podcast, so stay tuned and subscribe to my newsletter, this way you get my weekly post directly into your inbox.

Your first step as a Freddy: subscribe to this newsletter and please convince others to become a Freddy too.