When eyesight fades and climbing provides comfort

Seneida Biendarra, a blind athlete and product developer for Black Diamond, shares her journey to winning a gold medal at the 2023 Paraclimbing World Cup in Salt Lake City. As her eyesight deteriorated, she found comfort in climbing, which allowed her to connect with others facing similar challenges. The film by Janelle Dransfield and Rachel Ross highlights her emotional experiences on the competition stage and the difficulties she faces while navigating rocky terrains. Seneida describes her vision as a narrow tunnel, often obscured, requiring intense focus on each step. Climbing, however, provided her with a sense of control and purpose, contrasting with the frustrations of hiking.

She reflects on the humility that comes with blindness and the struggle to accept her identity as a visually impaired person. Initially hesitant to identify as blind due to the lack of visible signs, Seneida eventually found community and understanding at the Adaptive Climber's Festival in the Red River Gorge. This event allowed her to share her story and connect with others who have experienced similar feelings of isolation. Through these interactions, she learned to embrace her disability and the strength it has given her, ultimately rebuilding her confidence and sense of self within the climbing community.