The CiaO Foundation is proud to support Emily Wright, a remarkable young athlete whose determination, resilience and ambition continue to inspire everyone around her.
Emily is a GB Paraclimber and Parasailor who lives with severe visual impairment following a childhood diagnosis of an optic pathway glioma, a slow-growing brain tumour affecting the nerves that carry information from the eyes to the brain. Despite the challenges she has faced, Emily has never allowed her disability to define her.
Alongside her work at the Met Office as a Climate Scientist (following her passion for sustainability and the environment), Emily competes at an elite level in both sailing and climbing. She also enjoys running, kayaking, waterskiing, and hiking, demonstrating her passion for pushing boundaries and embracing new challenges.
As a visually impaired climber, Emily relies on a sight guide to help her navigate the climbing wall. While each athlete develops their own communication system, Emily and her guide, Rowan Fletcher, use a combination of clock-face directions and distance markers. This precise communication requires immense trust, teamwork and concentration, enabling Emily to climb competitively despite being unable to see the holds herself.
In June 2026, Emily represented Great Britain at her first Paraclimbing World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria. The CiaO Foundation was delighted to support Emily by helping to fund the coaching and sight-guide support needed to prepare for and compete at the event.
A key objective of the competition was for Emily to complete her international classification. Following a lengthy and demanding process, she was officially classified as a B2 athlete, confirming her eligibility to compete in the visually impaired category. Despite experiencing technical difficulties with her communication equipment during her first qualification route, Emily performed brilliantly, finishing 7th overall in a highly competitive international field. She was also really pleased to have managed to travel independently by train all the way to Austria for this competition, reflecting her passion and commitment to sustainability and the environment.
Reflecting on the experience, Emily said:
“I absolutely loved soaking up the supportive and inspiring environment of being surrounded by such awesome para climbers from all over the world. I loved Innsbruck as a city and can’t wait to compete again.”
Competing at this level opens exciting opportunities for Emily’s future, including further World Cup events, potential qualification for World Championships and, ultimately, the possibility of competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
Emily is also passionate about challenging perceptions of disability and encouraging others to pursue their ambitions.
“A lot of the time people assume I can’t do things. I have learnt that I, and others, no matter our differences or challenges in life, can achieve anything we put our minds to. Sometimes this involves approaching tasks slightly differently, but there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think this determination and unique approach is often what makes us achieve greatness. Do what you are passionate about. Set your goals, no matter how big or small, and don’t be afraid to be different. Everyone takes a different route to achieve their goals, and no route is better or worse than another.”
Emily Wright, GB Paraclimber
“Emily is a truly remarkable individual whose determination and positivity are an inspiration to everyone around her. Despite facing significant challenges from a young age, she continues to push boundaries and achieve incredible things. We are delighted to have played a small part in supporting her journey and are incredibly proud to follow her progress on the international stage. We look forward to celebrating many more successes with Emily in the future.”
Lottie Geaves, Trustee of CiaO Foundation
Main Picture Credit: Dimitris Tosidis
