How People Are Falling in Love on Climbing Walls
In the world of modern dating, new spaces are emerging where people meet and form romantic connections. For some, one of the most unexpected places to find love is at a climbing gym. The rise of indoor bouldering and rock climbing centers is transforming these athletic environments into hubs for social interaction, where bonds are forged between climbers during their sessions.
The Story of Megumi and Gordon
For Megumi and Gordon McKillop, their love story began at the Newsroom climbing center in Glasgow. Megumi, a beginner climber, found herself struggling with a challenging route when Gordon, a seasoned climber, offered her advice. When Megumi later injured her hand, Gordon stepped in with a helpful gesture.
Their connection was instant, and Gordon even accidentally sent her a friend request on Facebook while trying to check how to spell her name. From that serendipitous start, their relationship blossomed. Less than a year later, they were living together, and by February 2024, they were married. Their wedding reception was held at Dumbarton Rock, a renowned climbing spot in Scotland, underscoring how integral climbing has been to their relationship.
The Social Nature of Climbing
Climbing is a "hyper-social" sport, where participants often spend as much time socializing as they do on the wall. Sarah Moran, manager at Climbing Works in Sheffield, shares that many climbers meet potential partners at the gym, exchanging numbers after climbing together. Climbing centers across the UK, which have grown in popularity since the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, are viewed as "grown-up youth clubs," where people are naturally social due to the time spent between climbs. Climbers chat, share tips, and sometimes continue their conversations over coffee or post-climb meals.
Climbing as a Social Hub
For Rose Henderson and Mark Garbe, climbing is more than just a sport—it's the foundation of their social life. They met in 2015 at a Meetup climbing group, and their relationship has been built around climbing, whether on group trips to climbing hotspots like Fontainebleau or attending world cup events together. They’ve made lifelong friends through the sport and base their holidays on climbing destinations.
Many climbing centers are fostering this sense of community by hosting social events such as women’s and LGBTQ+ nights, further expanding the opportunities for climbers to meet others with similar interests. Kaloyan Galev met his partner Samuel Prentice at an LGBT climbing event, highlighting the inclusivity of the climbing scene.
A Changing Dating Landscape
As traditional social settings like offices and nightclubs have seen fewer opportunities for meeting new people, especially post-pandemic, climbing gyms are stepping in as a vibrant and inclusive space for singles. According to communications regulator Ofcom, dating apps have seen a decline in user numbers, while climbing gyms offer a unique, in-person alternative where socializing is built into the activity.