The Careless Talk Climbing Podcast E175: Dayan Akhtar - Achieving incredible world cup consistency through self-coaching and the physical and mental challenges on the comp circuit
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Nov 19, 2025 Dayan Akhtar, a British competition climber, shares his journey from balancing university to embracing full-time climbing. He dives into the intense mental and physical demands of the World Cup circuit, discussing his self-coaching approach and training methods. Dayan highlights the impact of route setters on competition outcomes and reflects on his remarkable consistency in competitions. He also touches on the challenges of training in the UK, the importance of resilience, and his goals for the Olympic pathway.
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Quitting Uni After Two Weeks
- Dayan dropped out of university after two weeks to pursue climbing full-time, despite family expectations.
- His mum supported him while his dad took longer to accept the non-traditional career choice.
Full-Time Focus Raises Mental Stakes
- Full-time climbing reduces external burdens but raises mental stakes because the sport becomes your whole identity.
- Dayan values staying psyched and avoids training becoming a joyless job.
Power Vs Technique Trade-Off
- Dayan defines himself as a power-based climber who excels on contact strength and crimps.
- He identifies slabs and technical movement as his primary weaknesses and focuses winter training there.