Seneida Biendarra

After a traditional childhood, Seneida Biendarra was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa—living life through a narrow cone of tunnel vision until complete blindness. Climbing became a beacon of light in her impending future.

For many years, Biendarra hid her diagnosis from friends and climbing partners out of fear that she would be told climbing was not a suitable sport for a blind person. It was moving to Utah and finding the supportive adaptive community that pushed Biendarra to accept and embrace her disability.

Making her debut at the 2023 Paraclimbing National Championships by placing first in the women’s B2 (severely blind) category, the national champion then took gold at the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup in Salt Lake City and silver at the IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships in Bern, Switzerland.