About Us

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

2024 IFSC Rank: 18

2025 Canadian Rank: 1

National Podiums: 10

Years Climbing: 14

Madison Richardson (b. July 27, 2001, Kitchener, Ontario) is a Canadian professional bouldering athlete and long-time member of the Canadian National Climbing Team.

She began climbing in 2011 at Grand River Rocks in Kitchener, Ontario, and entered her first competition in 2014. Madison joined Team Canada in 2016 and shifted her focus to specialize in bouldering in 2017. After reaching her first Open National Championship final in 2018, she has consistently maintained a podium position at Nationals ever since.

Competitive Highlights:

Became the first Canadian woman in years to reach a Boulder World Cup semi-final, placing 9th in Meiringen (2022)
9-time IFSC World Cup Semi-finalist with 12 top-25 World Cup finishes
Ranked as the #1 female Canadian bouldering athlete 2022-present

Beyond competition, Madison is passionate about athlete wellness, sharing her experience of stepping away from social media in her widely read 2019 article, “Why Ditching Instagram Earned Me the Podium.” She continues to document her journey through blogging, while her husband Zach manages their joint presence on YouTube and Instagram.

Zach Richardson

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

2025 Canadian Rank: 3

National Titles: 8

National Podiums: 12

Years Climbing: 16

Zach Richardson (b. January 9, 2001, Denver, Colorado) is a dual Canadian-American sport climber and a leading member of the Canadian National Bouldering Team.

Raised across several U.S. states in a military family, he settled in Burlington, Ontario in 2008—just as his parents opened Climbers Rock, the climbing gym where Zach began his lifelong passion at age eight.

Competitive Highlights:

Eight-time Canadian National Champion, including Open titles in 2019 and 2023.
Pan American Bouldering Champion in 2018 at age 17.
Multiple podiums in the North American Cup Series (NACS), including gold in Alexandria (2022) and Kanata (2024) silver in Vail (2024).
4th place at the 2020 U.S. Open National Championships, competing against top American athletes.
Consistent IFSC World Cup competitor, with regular semi-final appearances and recent placements including 41st in Prague and 39th in Seoul in 2024.

Zach is known for his calm demeanor under pressure, his strategic approach to competition, and his deep roots in the Canadian climbing community. When he’s not training or competing, he co-creates content with his wife, fellow Team Canada climber Madison Richardson, through their YouTube channel and other platforms.