In 2015, Alex Puccio was on a bouldering rampage—training hard, taking down V14, and dominating the competitive circuit. Unfortunately, her impressive World Cup season was cut short when she suffered a severe knee injury during isolation in Vail, CO.

Despite needing extensive surgery to repair her ACL, MCL, and meniscus, Alex channeled her innate dedication towards her physical therapy efforts—ensuring she could make a speedy recovery to rock climbing. Within just three months of her operation, she was back to bouldering V13.

Watch the video to see her full road to recovery, including an impressive array of V13 ascents in Colorado and Hueco Tanks, Texas.

 

Related: Coming Back Stronger and More Psyched: An Interview with Jamie Finlayson