Ryka Minchin races up the wall as fast as he can and slams the red buzzer.

You would never have thought the 11-year-old was in a serious car crash just three weeks ago.

But the Year 7 Pāpāmoa College student didn’t want to let his big bruises, and a slightly sore sternum, stop him from competing at his first-ever Zespri Aims Games in the rock climbing event.

Ryka is one of nearly 13,000 intermediate-aged athletes taking part in the week-long tournament in Tauranga.

Three weeks ago, however, Ryka didn’t think he would make it to the games.

The night of the crash, Ryka’s family were on their way to Ōhope, driving the same road they travel every Friday.

Ryka’s mum Yolanda Minchin said while no one was seriously injured, they were still recovering from the ordeal.

“Emotionally, it affected all of us,” said a teary-eyed Yolanda after watching her son get through the qualifying round.

She is proud of her son’s courage to carry on. “Talking about it is healing,” Yolanda said.

Ryka said his approach to the tournament was to “try to get through to the next day”. And he did.

To help him recover from the crash, Ryka said he has been engaging in mindfulness practices, such as breathing techniques, and writing about his experience.

“I wrote down everything.”

He is one brave boy.

David Enticott from Rocktopia, where the Aims Games rock climbing is taking place, said they loved hosting the competition each year.

“We just fundamentally love it on a base level, we love the notion of it, the thought behind it in terms of participation for all, [it is an] early introduction to competition.”

David said he had noticed an influx in foot traffic after the Paris 2024 Olympics, where New Zealand speed-climbing youth world champion and former Aims Games athlete Julian David competed.

“There has definitely been a surge in inquiries, certainly in a relatively short time.”

- SunLive