Philippe Ribière

Born

1977-03-12

Birthplace

Fort-de-France, Martinique, France

Biography

Philippe Ribière, born on March 12, 1977, in Martinique, is a French professional climber, photographer, and author known for his career in adaptive climbing and for founding the "Handi-Grimpe" event in 2003. Ribière was born in Martinique with several congenital malformations associated with Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome. He was abandoned at birth before being adopted at the age of four by a couple living in the Gard region of France. His childhood was marked by surgeries, the challenges of his disability, and mockery—experiences he describes as having strongly shaped his character. As a child, he was passionate about cycling; when he sought to join a local club in the Gard to practice the sport, the manager rejected him, saying, "I don't want a disabled person here." He subsequently discovered rock climbing in 1994 and joined a local club where he was welcomed without discrimination. In 1995, he competed in the French Youth Championships in Buis-les-Baronnies—an event hailed as a first for a disabled climber at that level of competition. After completing his secondary education, he decided to dedicate himself fully to climbing. He won a medal at the World Championships in 2001 and later finished third at the Para-Climbing World Championships in 2011. In 2003, he launched "Handi-Grimpe," an event bringing together able-bodied and disabled climbers. He has also appeared in numerous documentaries as part of the Petzl Rock Tour, traveling the globe. Among his notable climbing achievements, his ascent of Es Pontàs arc island in Mallorca on August 28, 2018, is the most frequently cited; it was a solo climb of approximately 30 meters, regarded as a landmark feat for an adaptive climber. Philippe Ribière lives in the Ardèche region and specializes in outdoor bouldering, alongside his other passions: portrait photography, travel, and public speaking. He recounts his life story in a biography co-authored with Emmanuelle Dal’Secco, *Faire Bloc* (2020, Arthaud), as well as in the documentaries "Wild One" (2012) by Jure Breceljnik and "Diamant Brut" (2019) by Frank Dalmat. Source: Wikipedia / Philippe Ribière