Emily Harrington

Emily Harrington is an American professional rock climber and mountaineer recognized as one of the most versatile mountain athletes of her generation. Born on August 17, 1986, in Boulder, Colorado, she began climbing at age ten on artificial walls before advancing to elite competition climbing and high-altitude outdoor expeditions. Harrington has earned international acclaim for her technical mastery on sport routes, high-peak mountaineering feats, and historic big-wall ascents in Yosemite Valley.

Early Life and Competition Career

Harrington grew up in Boulder, Colorado, where she joined her local gym's youth climbing team. Her competitive drive led to five U.S. National Championships in sport lead climbing between 2004 and 2009. Internationally, she earned a silver medal at the 2005 IFSC Climbing World Championships in Munich, Germany. While competing at the elite level, she attended the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating in 2007 with a degree in international affairs.

Outdoor Ascents and Expeditions

In 2008, Harrington joined The North Face athlete team, shifting her focus from indoor competitions to outdoor rock climbing and high-altitude expeditions. She recorded first female free ascents on multiple 5.14-graded sport routes and expanded into big-wall climbing and high-altitude mountaineering. Her high-peak achievements include summiting Mount Everest in 2012, scaling Ama Dablam in 2013, and speed-climbing Cho Oyu in 2016, followed by a complete ski descent from its summit.

Historic El Capitan Ascent and Media

On November 4, 2020, Harrington completed her most famous ascent in Yosemite National Park. She became the first woman and fourth person in history to free climb El Capitan's 3,000-foot Golden Gate route in under 24 hours, finishing in 21 hours, 13 minutes, and 51 seconds. Her journey was documented in the film Girl Climber. Harrington is also a motivational speaker, climate advocate with Protect Our Winters, and brand ambassador for companies including Petzl and La Sportiva.

Personal Life

Harrington resides in Tahoe City, California, where she trains, skis, and trail runs. She is married to professional mountain guide Adrian Ballinger, whom she met during a Himalayan expedition. The couple welcomed their first child together and regularly collaborate on climbing adventures and environmental advocacy.