Dad of a Champion: A Father's Day interview with Carl McNeice
This Father’s Day, we speak to the dedicated dad of GB Climber, Erin McNeice. What does it take to bring up a World Cup winner? Carl McNeice spoke to the BMC about the commitment and support required — and how to balance the challenging and co-existing roles of father, coach, manager, belayer, taxi and Bank of Dad…
Carl McNeice, father of Olympic finalist and IFSC Lead World Cup gold medallist Erin McNeice
You're a keen climber. As a climbing parent, how did you approach introducing Erin and her brother Callum to the sport without making them feel like they had to follow you into it?
I figured school would have the basic sports covered, so we introduced the kids to lots of more niche sports like climbing, skateboarding, triathlons, surfing. None of them were serious, just taster sessions. It possibly influenced them as they could see me climbing as well, but we never made it super serious or limited them to one sporting focus. They were naturally pretty good at climbing, which I am sure helped.
You have climbed outdoors together as a family and often climb together during Erin’s sessions. How do you think this training environment helped Erin to progress without feeling pressure?
I think it is nice for Erin, or any athlete, to have company on long training sessions. As a parent you can spot signs of stress and try to alleviate them, either immediately or later on. We always try to keep training sessions fun, varied, and challenging, even within the training plan which Erin will follow. I am not sure you can ever remove pressure, but finding ways to enjoy the pressure, or be resilient to it, without necessarily realising you are doing that are things the whole family can try and help with.
When Erin started competing as a child, how did you manage the balance between being a supportive dad and offering technical feedback as a knowledgeable climbing parent, or “coach”?
Every child is different, but I think it is generally true that there are times when kids will take advice and times they will not (at least not immediately). Learning when to provide feedback is a key skill. I believe the athlete also has to accept that feedback is always given with an intention to improve, not criticise. As Erin has progressed, she has had access to coaches and trainers with more knowledge than I possess, but I still enjoy giving her my observations and hopefully they add some value.
There are, though, always times when you need to shut off anything ‘coachy’ and be a parent, and those can be the best times.
What’s the most important thing that being a father to an athlete like Erin has taught you?
This may sound a bit brutal, but being honest with her in terms of goals and objectives, especially as these became wider, i.e. national to international success. If an athlete truly wants to achieve and be amongst the best in the world, there are a lot of sacrifices and commitments to be made that they need to understand and accept.
A key bit of advice from someone who is in a similar position (Tristian Roberts) has always stuck with me: ‘No-one knows your child like you do’. This is so true and gives you a unique perspective.
Can you describe the emotions of watching your daughter compete in an Olympic or World Cup final?
The work she put in before the Olympic Qualification Series (on the back of some very forthright feedback from her coaches on what she needed to do over the off-season) was intense and the results immense. So, I was super proud of her to have committed to that and qualified for the biggest sporting event in the world. To then see her keep it all together, climb well, make the finals, and really enjoy the whole experience was incredible. So, I think pride for me and happiness for her.
What advice would you give to other dads of talented climber kids?
Let the kids take it at their own speed. There is always another competition they can do, or a better club they could join, but the key thing for younger athletes is to enjoy it. Success from a young age does not guarantee anything because so much changes as kids develop and grow up. Erin progressed and gave more and more time to climbing because she chose to. I tried to create an environment which was supportive, fun and stress free, but at the various milestones we openly talked about the commitment she needed to make to take the next step.
I guess in many ways parents also make a commitment, whether that be time, finance, support etc. You can still be an integral part of the journey, or support structure, without being directly involved in the coaching.
Erin McNeice, Olympian and World Cup gold medallist winner
What’s it like to have a dad who understands climbing movement (and at what age did you first burn him off?)
Obviously it’s nice that he understands the movements so we can better talk about the comps and areas for improvement. Regardless of the understanding, he still likes to set me near impossible circuit climbs.
I don’t remember exactly when I started burning him off, but I do remember it was a big motivator for me. When we trained together, I just wanted to beat him, so I had the bragging rights over the dinner table.
What’s the best thing about your dad? (and what’s the most annoying thing?!)
My dad is very brutal. He’s very much a “no excuses” man. If I need to get better at something or change something, he will tell me in a very straight way. But then he also tries to make the process super enjoyable. There are so many smiles and laughs in my sessions. It is training and it is my job, but it’s also a passion and something to be thoroughly enjoyed. I really like the balance of the two.
The most annoying thing. Only one? I’m joking. I don’t think my dad has much of a filter. Maybe he speaks before he’s fully thought it through. Not really annoying, and it’s led to some very funny moments.
What would you like to say to your dad on Father’s Day?
I’d just say thank you. You’ve had a huge impact on me. Throughout my entire childhood and through the start of my career. I know you’ll continue to be a massive part of it all. I hope I have made you proud and that I can continue to grow with you by my side.
Related Content
Mountaineering Articles
Ski mountaineering — or SkiMo for short — will make its Olympic debut at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games. As qualification heats up and the GB SkiMo Squad progress through the ranks, here’s a look at what the sport involves, what shape it will take in the Winter Olympics and the ones to watch…
Performance News
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) welcomes the news from the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Sport Climbing will feature three standalone medal events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Olympics News
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a historic occasion for British climbing, marking a significant milestone in the sport's journey.
Performance News
Bursting onto the scene in 2024, 20-year-old Erin McNeice has cemented herself as one of the world’s best climbers. Qualifying for the finals in seventh, McNeice proved she was a force to be reckoned with.
Olympics News
In a thrilling conclusion to the Men's Sport Climbing finals at Paris 2024, Great Britain's Toby Roberts secured a sensational gold medal while Hamish McArthur takes an emotional fifth.
Performance News
Erin McNeice qualifies for Olympic final whilst Thompson-Smith finishes with a top-ten Lead performance.
Performance News
Following today’s Lead Semifinal, Great Britain are the only nation to qualify two athletes for Men’s Boulder & Lead Final.
Performance News
Erin McNeice and Molly Thompson-Smith put their first points on the scoreboard at Paris 2024, as the Women's Boulder Semifinal took place at Le Bourget yesterday, part of the Boulder & Lead event.
Performance News
The Men's Boulder Semifinal at Paris 2024 got underway today on the walls of Le Bourget, with four fresh boulders ready to be tackled. Today marked a moment for the history books as Great Britain’s Hamish McArthur and Toby Roberts made their Olympic debuts. They are the first men to represent Great Britain in Sport Climbing at the Olympic Games.
Performance News
Get ready for wall-to-wall action as the sport climbing competition at Paris 2024 kicks-off today with four Olympic debutants taking to the wall for Great Britain.
Indoor Climbing Articles
In a matter of days, 40 climbers from all around the globe will battle it out across three climbing disciplines of speed, lead and bouldering on the world's most watched wall of the year. Four British climbers will be among them representing Great Britain in Sport Climbing at Paris 2024 Olympic games. But how and where can you watch all the action? We have all the answers.
Olympics
With four GB Climbing athletes heading across the channel for the Olympic boulder and lead competitions starting Monday 5 August, not only are they bringing their A-game in terms of performance but, as part of the BMC, the whole team is supporting Paris 2024 in its bid to be the ‘greenest ever Games’.
Olympics News
The 2024 Olympic Games are underway, and the nation's eyes are firmly on Paris and all the Team GB athletes. As Sport Climbing makes its second-ever appearance at the Olympic Games, we get to witness a new chapter in history as four climbers step out onto the mats to represent Great Britain.
Olympics Articles
A brief history of competition climbing
Olympics News
Four sport climbers will make their Olympic Games debuts this summer for Team GB as the British Olympic Association (BOA) name the team that will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Performance News
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) celebrates the historic inclusion of Paraclimbing in the LA28 Paralympic Sport Program. This landmark decision represents a significant milestone for the sport, reflecting its growing popularity globally.
Olympics News
The culmination of the Olympic Qualifying Series in Budapest saw GB Climbing athletes Erin McNeice, Hamish McArthur, and Molly Thompson-Smith qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games.
Performance News
Round Two of the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) kicked off in Budapest, marking the athletes' final opportunity to secure a spot for Paris 2024. As the heat was turned up on and off the wall the top 20 men’s and women’s Boulder & Lead semi-finalists have been confirmed.
Performance News
The Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) is reaching its finale at the Ludovika Campus in Budapest this week. A total of 48 top climbers from around the globe will vie for their last chance to secure a spot in the Boulder & Lead event for Paris 2024.
Olympics Articles
GB Climbing's Toby Roberts talks training, mindset, hopes and fears for his first Olympic Games this summer.
Olympics News
Erin McNeice and Hamish McArthur put on a world-class show in the finals of Boulder & Lead competition at the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai, on Sunday (18 May).
Performance
The third day of the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) featured the men’s and women’s Boulder & Lead semi-finals, selecting the top-eight athletes to compete in the final.
Performance
Part one of the Olympic Qualifying Series in Shanghai, China, began today with the Boulder qualifying round. 46 men and 48 women are contesting the combined Boulder and Lead event at the city’s Urban Park over a four-day event on the Huangpu riverside, all in a bid to secure coveted spots at Paris 2024.
Performance News
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) can today announce the lineup that will compete in Shanghai, China to represent the GB Climbing team at the first event of the Olympic Qualifying Series from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 May 2024.
Performance News
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is proud to reaffirm our commitment to clean sport by backing UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD’s) Clean Sport Week campaign from 13 - 17 May.
Olympics News
GB Climbing’s Toby Roberts rounded off a formidable season with a victory at the 2023 European Boulder and Lead Olympic Qualifier event.
Performance
Read the BMC statement following the Competition Climbing Performance Group (CCPG) report.
Performance News
Elections for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Athletes’ Commission took place at the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Championships in Moscow, Russia, with Olympian Shauna Coxsey MBE, of Great Britain, elected as President.
Olympics Articles
GB Climbing works alongside promising young climbers to help create the stars of tomorrow. But how to do this? Niall Grimes talks to Tim Cunnington, the Coach Development Manager at GB Climbing to find out more about the thinking behind the process.
Performance
It’s been an exhilarating three days watching Sport Climbing’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the fourth and final day was not one to disappoint either. Here's our report of the Women's Sport Climbing Final.
Performance News
Summary of Day 3 of the Sport Climbing Men's Finals at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Performance News
Shauna Coxsey becomes the first climbing Olympian of Great Britain. Highlights of the second day of Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the women's qualification round.
News
Highlights of first day of Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the men's qualification round.
Olympics Articles
Did you know that alpinism used to be an Olympic sport? With sport climbing on the verge of making its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, we bring you six fascinating facts about the history of climbing, competing and the Olympics.
Performance News
The International Olympic Committee officially confirmed that Sport Climbing has been included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Performance News
Shauna Coxsey became the first sport climber selected to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games.
Performance News
GB Climbing’s Shauna Coxsey has qualified for a Tokyo 2020 quota place at the Combined Event.