Q&A with James Rudge – Chasing Peaks and Pushing Limits

James Rudge is a professional climber in his 30s who has spent the last eight years competing on the international stage. Born with a limb difference on his left arm, James has never let it hold him back. Before climbing, he competed in parkour competitions, a sport that honed his agility, balance, and fearless approach to movement.

This year, James set himself a new challenge: to push his training regime to its limits, sharpen his workout posture, and beat his personal best records. In February, he began working with our team at Open Bionics to prototype test the Hero PRO, Hero FLEX socket and our latest range of activity attachments designed for intense activities like gym workouts. For someone who had rarely worn prosthetics before, it opened up a whole new way of training and exploring what was possible.

In September, we were so proud to sponsor James and cheer him on as he pushed himself to the limit, travelling all the way to Seoul to compete at the World Championships. There, he secured an incredible 7th place finish in the world — a huge milestone in a sport that continues to grow in competitiveness and talent.

Here, James shares what drives him, what he’s learned from competitions, and how he’s approaching the next stage of his journey toward the LA Paralympics 2028.

James, can you share a bit about your background and journey into climbing?
 I was born with a limb difference on my left arm, but that’s never stopped me. Before I got into climbing, I actually competed in parkour competitions, which really shaped my movement, agility, and balance. About eight years ago, I shifted my focus fully to climbing, and it’s been my passion ever since.

You’ve mentioned that you rarely used prosthetic devices growing up. Why was that?
As a kid, I was prescribed body-powered prosthetics, but I had a bad experience with them. They always felt awkward and slow, and I hated wearing them at school. The silicon socket even used to make fart noises when I took it off, which made me want to avoid it even more. From then on, I decided to rely on my own body and push myself physically without prosthetics.

But this year things have changed. Exploring the world of prosthetics, how has that been?
It’s been really exciting. Since February, I’ve been involved in prototype testing of the Hero Flex socket and activity attachments. For someone who’s rarely worn prosthetics, it’s opened up a whole new world. The setup is designed for intense gym training, so it’s given me new options for building strength, improving posture, and pushing my workouts to new limits.

In September, you competed at the World Championships in Seoul and finished 7th in the world. How did that feel?
Honestly, amazing. The field was stacked with incredible athletes, so to come away with 7th felt like real progress for me. On my first route, I struggled with a sideways move that caught me out before, but the second route was different. I moved well, fought hard through the crux, and came off the wall smiling with pumped arms. That’s the feeling I climb for.

How has this season influenced your goals moving forward?
This year was about pushing my training to the limits, focusing on workout posture, and beating my personal bests, and I feel like I’ve done that. Seoul showed me what I’m capable of, but also where I can improve. Now, I’m looking ahead to the LA Paralympics in 2028. That’s the big goal, and everything I do from here is about giving myself the best shot at qualifying.

What excites you most about the journey ahead?
For me, it’s not just about medals or rankings, it’s about enjoying the process. Every route, every training session, every breakthrough moment matters. Climbing has always been about testing myself and having fun, and now, with new tools like the Hero Flex and activity attachments, I feel like I’ve got more ways to push myself and explore what’s possible.

We couldn’t be prouder of James and everything he’s achieved so far. Watching him push boundaries with our team at Open Bionics and seeing his determination pay off on the world stage has been epic to witness. We’ll be cheering him on every step of the way as he climbs toward LA 2028.

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