Jenya Kazbekova sends Necessary Evil (8c+) at Virgin River Gorge

Ukrainian climber Jenya Kazbekova has repeated Necessary Evil at the Virgin River Gorge, USA. Bolted by Boone Speed, the route was first ascended in 1997 by the then 15-year-old Chris Sharma and over the years it has transformed into one of the country's benchmark 5.14c / 8c+. The first female ascent was carried out by Michaela Kiersch in February 2018.

Kazbekova sent the climb after two months of training, a mere 5 days of attempts and, remarkably, a mere 4 and a half months after giving birth. After her ascent, the 29-year-old she stated "The curiosity to see how far I can push myself has never been bigger. It certainly takes a village with a baby, but it is possible, and I’m here to find out."

Kazbekova has climbing in her genes - her father Serik Kazbekov boasts 8b+ onsight and silver in the 1999 Boulder World Cup, while her mother Natalia Perlova went on to win the Boulder World Cup in 2002. The Ukrainian started making headline news when she sent 8b as a mere 12-year-old back in 2009, while eight years later she climbed her first 8c+, Güllich at Crimea's Red Stone crag. Her most recent pre-pregnancy ascents include Big smile (8c), Pati Noso (8c/c+), Directa Jabali (8c). She is also a highly seasoned competition climber, and in 2024 competed at the Paris Olympic Games.