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Overcoming obstacles

Kennesaw State management graduate aims to climb to the top of their sport

By Kennesaw State University

December 13^th, 2023

With a slight scowl, Mary Tankersley solemnly stares at a rock wall at Stone Summit climbing gym in Kennesaw planning a route to the top, tracing the hand and footholds with their eyes.

After a few minutes, Tankersley stands up, chalks their hands, claps off the excess and walks to the base of the wall, peering up. Soon, they defy gravity, climbing the wall swiftly by swinging gracefully from one colorful rock to the next.

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

It’s easy to forget – for onlookers and Tankersley both – that the graduating Kennesaw State University senior has only one leg.

“When I started getting into competitions, I hadn’t ever considered myself an adaptive climber or even really disabled, even though I have a whole metal leg. I just wanted to ignore it,” Tankersley said.

Tankersley, a management major in the Coles College of Business, lost their right leg after receiving a bone cancer diagnosis at age 11. Doctors said the location of the tumor in the leg made Tankersley eligible for a unique procedure called a rotationplasty. The surgery removes the tumor, as well as the bottom of the femur, the knee and the upper tibia, rotates the lower leg 180 degrees and then attaches it to the femur again, turning the ankle joint into a functioning knee joint.

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

"When I’m at the gym, I just feel so at home."

Though chemotherapy and recovery were tough, and there have been moments of insecurity, Tankersley said they’ve never let their cancer diagnosis and amputation stop them from doing what they want.

“I do notice that some things are harder, but that's okay because I have other techniques that I am really good at, and I adapt and overcome,” Tankersley said. “Everybody’s an adaptive climber, really, because everybody adapts to their own abilities and figures out techniques that work for them.”

In search of a hobby, Tankersley began indoor sport climbing in June 2021. Shortly after, another amputee climber introduced them to the Adaptive Climbers Fest, where Tankersley made more friends in adaptive climbing. At first, they didn’t take the sport too seriously - it was just a way to make friends and have fun.

Fast forward to today, and Tankersley has taken top 5 finishes in multiple national and international competitions, including third in both the 2023 USA Paraclimbing National Championships and the 2023 International Federation of Sport Climbing Paraclimbing World Cup. Traveling to Europe for a summer of competition and travel, Tankersley’s performances earned a place on the USA national team.

As they worked through school at KSU, professors were flexible and supportive with Tankersley’s competition schedule.

“I really appreciated that we were able to have open and honest conversations, and they were just like, ‘Go for it,’” Tankersley said.

Tankersley works at Stone Summit and upon graduation, will put their degree to use as a manager of the gym.

The work gives Tankersley the flexibility to travel for competitions and return as a valued member of the team.

“I am so excited for this next season,” Tankersley said. “I’ve learned so much this past season, which was my first season ever competing. Looking back, I'm so proud of myself, and I just see so many positive things that can come out of me continuing this track.”

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

Overcoming obstacles

As they continue to improve, Tankersley hopes to possibly make climbing a career path. But for the most part, their focus is improvement, fun and inspiration.

“I love climbing because I like how it makes me feel,” Tankersley said. “I feel very confident and powerful when I climb. When I'm at the gym, I just feel so at home. I would like to trailblaze for other disabled people, so that they feel they can do anything they want to do.”

Footnotes

- Story by Thomas Hartwell, photos by Matt Yung, video by Abbey O'Brien Barrows

FootNotes

- Story by Thomas Hartwell, photos by Matt Yung, video by Abbey O'Brien Barrows

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