Climbing-Athletes demand eating disorder action before Olympics

Climber Kai Lightner of the U.S. - Kingston, Jamaica - November 11, 2023 Gareth Leah/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Kai Lightner was a youth climbing world champion but after being told at 14 that his liver was close to failure and fracturing his spine in two places he realised the restrictions he put on eating to pursue success had spun dangerously out of control.

Lightner, now 24, is among a group of elite climbers speaking out about eating disorders and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), where athletes do not eat enough to fuel themselves.