Leslie Romero: From Venezuela to Olympic Hopeful and Madrid World Series Contender

The world of speed climbing has rapidly captured the attention of sports fans and at the forefront in Spain is Leslie Romero. An Olympic diploma holder from Paris 2024 and one of the fastest on the circuit, Romero is poised to be a key figure at the World Climbing Series Comunidad de Madrid 2026, set to take place in Alcobendas from May 28th to 31st. “I’m really excited to compete in Madrid,” Romero confessed. “Last year’s event was fantastic, and the atmosphere surrounding climbing was incredible.”

Born in Venezuela (San Juan de los Morros) in 1998 and now based in Alicante, the 27-year-old Romero describes herself as a “very determined person,” and acknowledges that resolve has been crucial to her journey. “From a young age, I’ve set competitive goals in climbing and worked hard to achieve them, overcoming many obstacles along the way. I likewise consider myself an honest and very determined person when I want to achieve something.”

The International Breakthrough with Spain

Romero’s progress on the international circuit has been consistent in recent years. “Since I started competing for Spain, I’ve had important results internationally. I was also the first Spanish woman to qualify for the Olympic Games in speed climbing and one of the first to reach finals in major international championships.”

Romero recognizes that her move to Spain was pivotal to her sporting development. “When I competed for Venezuela, I already knew I had potential, but I lacked the support to take that step. Coming to Spain opened many doors for me. When talent is combined with support, structure, and a good team, the results come.”

For the climber, that support has been fundamental. “I always emphasize the importance of support. Having a federation, a technical team, and the development that climbing is experiencing in Spain has been key to my growth as an athlete.”

What She Left Behind in Venezuela

Leslie Romero’s personal journey is marked by her story between Venezuela and Spain. “My life is very much shaped by that process. I was trained as an athlete in Venezuela and learned many values there that now help me make the most of all the opportunities I have in Spain. It was quite difficult at first because I arrived without a name in Spanish climbing. I practically had to start from scratch, earn my place, and build my path little by little.”

This sporting challenge was compounded by personal ones, as “it meant leaving my family behind, adapting to a different culture, and learning to live alone. That was probably the hardest part. Today, I look back and don’t regret anything I’ve experienced. It’s all been part of the journey to pursue my dreams.” That experience has also shaped her approach to competition.

The Olympic Experience and Subsequent Pressure

Throughout her journey, Romero reached a special moment at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, finishing among the top eight competitors. “Paris was a dream come true. After many years of effort, sacrifice, and change, being able to be there meant a lot to me. Just qualifying was a huge achievement, but also reaching the final was the icing on the cake. Experiencing what it’s like to compete in an Olympic final gave me a valuable perspective for the future.”

Maintaining that peak performance, but, proved challenging. “2025 was a pretty tough year. We made a lot of changes, including changing coaches. I started working with the coach of the Olympic champion, and that also put a lot of pressure on me. I felt that after the Games, I had set the bar very high and had a responsibility to do even better. Over time, I realized that I was putting that pressure on myself. I consider that happens to many athletes: we always want more, but time also teaches you patience.”

Alcobendas, a Special Event at Home

The World Climbing Series Comunidad de Madrid 2026 will bring some of the biggest names in the sport to Alcobendas at the end of May. “It will be a first-class international competition, and some of the fastest athletes in the world will be coming. Being able to compete at home is always very special. Feeling the support of the Spanish public and being able to show all the function we do up close is something that motivates me a lot.” the event will have added personal significance… “My family will surely be there, and that is very special to me.”

In Alcobendas, Leslie Romero will face the current world record holder and Olympic gold medalist, Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw, whom she recognizes as a role model and with whom she trains practically every day. “She has inspired me a lot since I was little. For me, it was already a dream to be able to compete with her, and now I also have the opportunity to train with her since last season. When you see a champion like that up close, you understand all the sacrifices behind those results.”

Admiring Marc Márquez and Rafa Nadal

Romero also finds inspiration outside of her sport. “I really admire Marc Márquez for his ability to overcome obstacles and his work ethic, and Rafa Nadal is also a great reference for me, for everything he represents in sport: effort, humility, and consistency.”

From Nadal, she has likely tried to absorb that psychological strength, as Romero explains, “speed climbing is a very mental sport. Many factors come into play in competition, and you don’t always make a perfect climb. That’s why it’s crucial to have a strong mind, know how to adapt to each situation, and react quickly.”

“When your goals are as big as winning a World Championship or the Olympic Games, mental work becomes as important as physical work…”. And her mind is already set on 2028. “Starting next year, the qualification process for Los Angeles 2028 will begin. The main goal is to qualify again and, once there, aspire to improve on the results of Paris.” Alcobendas will be a good opportunity to continue refining her preparation for this Olympic qualification process.