About Me

My name is Orielle Michaelis-Thorpe. I'm an Aboriginal athlete training in competitive sportclimbing in Lead and Boulder. And in the development program for boxing (youfor2032) coached by First Nations coach Sam Leone. My mob are Bidjara (SW Qld) and Dhunghutti (Mid coast NSW) I am of Aboriginal/European descent. I live in Meanjin (Brisbane), QLD on Jagera and Turrbul country. My dream is to compete for Australia in the 2032 Olympics. Training now for Youth Worlds in Guiyang, China in August and for future State & National Comps.

Current Reality

My 2024 competition climbing achievements are far beyond my expectations. In May I won the Qld Open A Women's Boulder Championship. I placed 2nd in Australia for Youth Nationals in Boulder & Lead. I am now in the Australian Youth Climb Team for Boulder & Lead and will compete at World Youth Climbing Championships in Guiyang, China in August. I am stoked to represent Australia & my First Nations mob to compete overseas. And now raising funds is a priority to get the training I need and the costs covered to get there.

How My Rockclimbing journey started.

At a school holiday day program in Urban Xtreme in 2020, Isaac Nichol saw my potential and coach Justin invited me to the UX comp squad in Top Rope. In Jan 2022 I started my competitive climbing journey and placed 2nd in Qld Youth C for top rope. Then I discovered Bouldering in Feb 2022 with coach Drue from 9 Degrees Enoggera. For the last 3 years I have competed at State and National level. Over this period I have trained in squads with Urban Xtreme, Core, Urban Climb, and Bould Move. These coaches: Justin (UX), Drue (9D), Chris & Eve (Core), Lil & Zac (UC), Jacob (BM) and performance coaches Charlie Mazauric, Wei Cheih & Maneli Gharakhan have all contributed to the athlete I am today. My Australian ranking for 2024 is second in Boulder and Lead for Youth B female.

Each year I look back and watch my climbs and see how much I have grown and changed and how little I still know and how much there is to learn and develop as an elite athlete. As the categories get higher the more skill level, strength and mindset resilience is required. And the more funds to keep up with coaching, climbing gym memberships, training, comp fees, interstate accommodation and flights and transport. 

Sport Climbing Background

Australia is very young in competitive sport climbing. Even though Brisbane is hosting the 2032 Olympics we do not have any international standard facilities or dedicated training centres. In fact no where in Australia has. It is the most underfunded Olympic sport in Australia. Sport Climbing Australia is helping lift our standards with bringing International coaches and routsetters for workshops. I recently did a casting job and used the money to get to Tokyo to train with my coach Maneli - following in the foot steps of the older Aus team youth who are serious about their training and go overseas to train.

My Pathway

I am very lucky to be a K2 Basecamp Ambassador and they help me out with La Sportiva climbing shoes and other climbing gear to get me competition ready. I am also an ambassador for Discovery Climbing who help with National & State fees. I help K2 at events when I am available taking photos or interviewing athletes or checking on the younger female athletes in the breaks - that's usually a game of chasey.

My parents have taken me on road trips to different Boulder gyms and Lead walls to gain diversity and experience. Mum voluntarily organises performance coaches up to Qld for me and other athletes to have access with shared costs for parents (heaps cheaper . She has helped gain sponsorship for a few kids and always makes sure there is a balance of giving back. This is our Murri way.

I am dedicated to my training and I still make time for fun climbing on the wall with friends, family. I am also coaching occasionally to help younger kids get the skills they need and for me practice what I learn.

My Coaches

My coach Charlie Mazauric is leaving coaching whilst he goes away travelling with his wife but luckily whilst training in Sydney this Christmas gone Chieh Wei introduced me to my new performance coach Maneli Gharakhan who has left Iran and relocated permanently to Australia.

It makes a huge difference to be coached by a female. The journey with her gives me direct insight into the overseas competitive environment and what is is like to be a woman on the World circuit in a predominantly male driven sport - her training is hardcore and I love it.

Her advice to me has been to seek mentors and encourages seeking this well rounded professional development and specialised training. She also knows that attending more competitions builds the necessary resilience and experience to move into the world circuit. 

The funds raised through this sporting fund will be contributing to the following: 

Coaching: believe it or not finding a coach that can take you to an elite standard of climbing training in Australia is very hard to find and access. I travel a long distance to train with talented coaches but that is intermittent due to my parents financial situation. 

Competition: participation in State Boulder and Lead competitions is excellent preparation for Nationals and for my own growth as a competitor. My next big competition is the World Youth Climb Championships in Guiyang, China in August. I will compete in Boulder and Lead.

Training: now that sport climbing is in the Olympics there is a definite trend for climbing gyms in Australia. Compared to the European, American and Asian climbing gyms Australia is still behind in purpose built high performance training facilities. Our generation of climbers need to have access to these type of facilities.

Upcoming Competitions

Youth World Climbing Championships 22-29 August (Guiyang, China)

QLD State Youth Boulder Titles 13-15 Oct (Brisbane)

I hope with your support I can go further in my sporting dreams and be a role model to other Aboriginal girls to believe in their dreams and never give up. 

Donations of any amount go a long way!