Mina Markovič: The less I understand, the more I learn, as long as I leave my ego at home

Mina Markovič once gave almost all her time to sport climbing. Now the winner of 22 World Cup events gives the discipline only half her attention, while natural rock has replaced artificial walls as her main setting.

Markovič still sees climbing as a broad field, and her relationship with it has changed several times over the years. The former leading Slovenian competitor also works in biopsychology, adding another dimension to a career that once revolved almost entirely around competition climbing.

This Friday and Saturday, sport climbers will compete in lead climbing in Slovenia for the 30th time. Koper will host the World Series, formerly known as the World Cup, for the fifth time after the event spent decades in Kranj.

To mark the organizational anniversary, all 18 Slovenian finalists from domestic competitions have been invited. Markovič is among them, alongside a record that includes medals at world and European championships. She eventually handed the winning mantle to Janja Garnbret, but she has not left climbing behind. She simply approaches it on different terms now.