Could This Cornish Climber Be Heading for the Olympics?

When Seren Wills was just two years old, she had a passion for climbing. Her dad, Julian, built a climbing wall in the family garage to nurture her love for the sport. Fast forward to 2025, and Seren, now 15, has just secured a bronze medal in the under-17 category at the British Lead Climbing Championships in Manchester.

Rising Through the Ranks

Seren, from South East Cornwall, has been making waves on the international stage. In 2024, she represented Great Britain in China, Slovakia, Austria, and France, achieving a top-25 finish in all competitions. Currently ranked 23rd in the world, her ambition is clear—she has her eyes set on a future Olympic appearance.

Climbing talent runs in the family. Seren’s 13-year-old brother, Bodhi, is also showing great promise and has been selected for the foundation England squad. Their father, Julian, is an ultra-runner and high-performance coach at Callywith College in Bodmin, while their mother, Alison, works as a strategic partnership manager with Sport England.

Game-Changing Support

Both Seren and Bodhi were recipients of GLL Sports Foundation (GSF) Awards in 2024, providing them with free access to GLL’s 240 leisure centres across the UK. Julian described this as a “gamechanger”, particularly with the high costs of competing at a national and international level.

“Travelling nationally and internationally doesn’t come cheap and we’re really grateful for the help GLL provides through GSF,” said Julian.

Seren trains six times a week, and having access to Saltash and Liskeard leisure centres for strength and conditioning has been crucial to her development. She also uses the pool as a way to relax, as climbing is as much a mental challenge as a physical one.

Apply for GLL Support

GLL, which operates nine leisure centres in Cornwall under the Better brand, provided nearly £70,000 worth of awards to 116 Cornish athletes in 2024. With the 2025 GSF application deadline set for 20th February, Julian encouraged other young athletes to take advantage of the support available.

“The support makes a massive difference and certainly, in our case, has been a gamechanger.”

For more information on the GLL Sports Foundation and how to apply, visit https://www.gllsportfoundation.org/.