Destivelle, Catherine (1960–)

French rock-climber. Born July 24, 1960, in Oran, Algeria; eldest of 6 children; moved with family to Paris in early teens; children: 1 son.

Began climbing at 13 and achieved rapid success; climbed Couzy-Desmaison route on Olan and the Devies-Gervasutti route on Ailefroide (1976) and made ascent of American Direct on Petit Dru (1977) at 17; began competing, entering 1st competition at age 25; climbed still-new 13c route called Chouca at Buoux, France, then the hardest route ever climbed by a woman (1988); experienced incredible success in competition, winning repeatedly, including at Bardonecchia, Italy, for 3 consecutive years, earning title of best female climber (1985–88); was 1st woman to achieve 8a and 8a+ status; retired from competition after 2nd Snowbird Cup (1989) to focus on mountaineering; free-climbed Nameless Tower in Pakistan and solo climbed Bonatti Pillar on Les Drus (1990); opened new route up famous West face of Drus, during 11-day solo-climb (1991); took 17 hours to solo 3,970 meters of North face of Eiger in Bernese Oberland (1992); attempted Latok in Pakistan (1992); achieved winter solo of North Face of Grandes Jorasses and attempted West Pillar of Makalu in Nepal (1993); soloed Bonatti route on North Face of Matterhorn in winter (1994); climbed South West Face of Shishapangma in Tibet, and attempted South Face of Annapurna (1995); suffered accident in Antarctica (1996) but recovered quickly.