Hi. We’re the Richardsons.

I'm Maddie, and to my left, Zach. We're professional sport climbers on the Canadian National Bouldering Team, and we're married!

Madison Richardson

A climber jumping for some holds at a climbing competition — Maddie in finals at Studio Bloc Masters in Pfungstadt, Germany

Birthplace: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Birthdate: July 27, 2001

Years Climbing: 13

Current IFSC Rank: 10

Canadian Rank: 1

I started climbing in 2011 in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, at Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym and started competing in 2014. A few years later, my parents opened a bouldering gym in Cambridge, Ontario, called The Core Climbing Gym, which they sold in 2023.

I've been involved with the Canadian National Team since 2016 when I qualified for the Youth World Championships in lead and boulder. After numerous years competing in both disciplines in Youth and Open fields, I decided to focus all of my attention on bouldering in 2017.

In 2018, I made my first Open National Championship final in bouldering, coming in 4th. Since then, I'm proud to say I have yet to step off the podium at Nationals!

On the World Cup Circuit, I have made steady progress over the years. My first Boulder World Ranking was 86th in 2019, but in the 2023 season, I managed to level up my rank to 24th.

To date, I've made 5 IFSC World Cup semi-finals and placed in the top 25 at 8 World Cups.

On a personal note, I quit social media in 2018 (Zach runs our Instagram and YouTube) and have been blogging since 2019. I love traveling with Zach (and alone if need be), and I'd love to visit every country in Europe one day.

I have a weakness for Kinder chocolate and hotel breakfast buffets, I can speak German, I'm pretty good at sewing, and my all-time favorite actor is Cillian Murphy (and that was pre-Oppenheimer!).

Zach Richardson

Man holding a pinch block at a climbing gym — Zach training at Boulderwelt Frankfurt Climbing Gym

Birthplace: Denver, Colorado, USA

Birthdate: January 9, 2001

Years Climbing: 15

National Titles: 8

National Podiums: 11

Zach is a dual Canadian-American citizen born in Denver, CO. His mother, a lawyer in the American military, moved the family around a lot, and he grew up in half a dozen states.

In 2008, the Richardsons settled in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, where his parents also opened a climbing gym, Climbers Rock, which they still run. It was also in 2008 that he (not so) coincidentally started climbing. Before moving to Germany with me, Climbers Rock was the only gym he ever called home.

In Youth and Open competition, Zach has claimed 8 National Titles, including a win at the Open National Championships in 2019 and 2023.

💡

Zach and I both won Youth Boulder Nationals in 2016 and 2018!

He also won the Pan-American Championships and dipped his toes in USA Climbing, placing 4th at the American Open National Championships in 2020.

Don't be fooled by his dual citizenship, though. Zach is more Canadian than when you look at his playlist - he devotes 90% of his Spotify library to Canadian artists The Weeknd and Drake.

Like me, he also likes traveling and hanging out in airports, and unlike me, he is very good at poker.