Sebastian Musson scales routes many climbers cannot conquer — and he does it with one hand. Now the four-time British para-climbing champion has his sights firmly set on making history at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympics.
The 19-year-old from Long Eaton has surged to third in the world rankings and is targeting gold when para-climbing makes its Paralympic debut at the 2028 Summer Paralympics.
From Chance Visit To World Stage
Musson’s journey began six years ago after a rain-soaked day cancelled rugby training. A spontaneous trip to a climbing wall in Derby changed everything.
There, he met inclusive coach and British champion Anita Aggarwal, who encouraged him to explore para-climbing competitively. Until that moment, Musson had not considered what might be possible.
“It’s being able to do something people don’t expect when they see I’ve got one hand,” he said. “I go up climbs where people themselves can’t go — and I’m doing it without a hand.”
Inspired By A Childhood Dream
Musson’s ambition stretches back to watching the 2012 Summer Paralympics as a four-year-old. He told his parents he wanted to compete and win gold — despite not yet having a sport to call his own.
Now he believes para-climbing is his pathway to fulfilling that promise.
“I’m taking it all the way,” he said. “I am very much thinking about LA and aiming for the gold medal.”
Rapid Rise Through The Ranks
In 2024, Musson claimed silver in the AU2 category — for athletes with moderate upper-limb impairments — at the European Championships in Villars, Switzerland. He has since added World Cup bronze medals in Italy and the United States.
Aggarwal, who has multiple sclerosis, describes climbing as an “adult playground” built on problem-solving rather than limitation.
“The only rule is can you get one or two hands on the top hold,” she said. “How you get there is entirely up to you.”
Confidence Beyond The Wall
When they first met, Musson was quiet and self-conscious. Today, he coaches younger climbers and competes internationally with confidence.
“I’ve seen how much it’s changed him,” Aggarwal said. “He’s got expectations and goals and it’s just been amazing.”
For Musson, the wall is no barrier — it is a puzzle waiting to be solved. And in Los Angeles, he hopes to solve the biggest one of all.
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