Media Coverage
Kai Lightner: The Comeback Kid, Climbing Gold Podcast with Alex Honnold, 6/2024
Kai Lightner Sends Three 5.14d Routes in a Week, Gripped Magazine, 4/2024
Interview: Kai Lightner on Making the FA of ‘Death of Villains’ (5.15a), Climbing Magazine, 3/2024
Amateur Attempts To Learn How To Rock Climb with Pro Kai Lightner, Outside TV, 2/2024
Kai Lightner Opens Jamaica’s Hardest Climb, Gripped Magazine, 12/2023
This is My Climb (Documentary), Prudential, 1/2024
Kai Lightner Just Did His Hardest Route in Eight Years, Climbing Magazine, 12/2023
How Kai Lightner is Climbing for Change, NBC News, 3/2023
Kai Lightner Thinks We Can Do Better, Climbing Magazine, 3/15/2023
Pro Climber Kai Lightner Seeks Diversity in the Outdoor Industry, Daily Camera, 4/27/2022
C4C Founder receive USOPC Hope Award for Nonprofit Work, 12/17/2021
Got Milk commercial (2021)
A Village - Climbing for Change Documentary , OutsideTV (2021)
Climbers Aim to Break Down Barriers by Building Walls, Fox Atlanta news (2021)
Kai Lightner and Beth Rodden Help Us Shine a Light on Disordered Eating in Climbing, Climbing Gold Podcast (2021),
American Alpine Club Climbing Award Recipients (2021),
Disordered Eating, Flexibility for tall climbers, and Climbing for Change, The Nugget Podcast (2021)
The Real-Life Diet of Rock Climber Kai Lightner, Who Refuels with His Mother's Cooking, GQ Magazine (2021),
Saying the Quiet Parts Out Loud, Outside Magazine (2021)
ABC World News Now (2020)
NBC Today in LA (2020)
Kai Lightner Speaks Out About His Eating Disorder, Outside Magazine (2020)
Kai Lightner: Open Your Eyes To The Reality Of Black Lives, Rock and Ice Magazine (2020)
How Outdoor Companies Can Back Up Their DEI Pledges, Outside Magazine - DEI Outdoors (2020)
Kai Lightner Launches Non-Profit “Climbing For Change” to Address Racial Inequality in Rock Climbing, Rock & Ice Magazine (2020)
Ted-Ed IG Live Interview (2020)
Feature on Instagram’s Official Page (2020)
National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) Podcast Interview (2020)
For the Love of Climbing Podcast: Light at the End of the Tunnel (2020)
Outdoor Retailer Magazine Cover (2019)
Aptitude for Altitude: Babson Freshman Begins Ascent, Poets & Quants (2018)
Kai Lightner, UNCTV-PBS (2018)
30 Under 30, Blue Ridge Outdoors (2018)
History in the Making- Black History Month, Disney Channel (2018)
Kai Lightner's Journey to the Top, REI.com (2018)
Shattering Stereotypes and Reaching New Heights, The Today Show (2018)
Outdoor Retailer Magazine Cover (2019)
Touching the Sky: Teen Climber Kai Lightner Competes with the Pros, Highlights Children's Magazine, October 2017
Fayetteville Valedictorian has even loftier goals, ABC News (2017)
Kai Lightner, 17, aims to be the best rock climber in the country, ESPN: Undefeated (2017)
Kai Lightner, Climbing's Boy Wonder, Men's Journal (2017)
Summer Camp Opens Dramatic New Vistas for City Kids, Charlotte Observer (2016)
White House Instagram Page feature (2016)
The Today Show (2016)
Spotlight on NBCNews website (2016)
Introducing The NBCBLK28, NBC News (2016)
This 16 Year Old Rock Climber is Inspiring..., Buzzfeed.com (2016)
Top teen rock climber in the world advises Omaha youths to find passion, forge their own paths, Omaha.com (2015)
Black Teen Rockclimbing Sensation Shattering Stereotypes, Huffington Post (2015)
Kai Lightner's Tips for Endurance Routes, Dead Point Magazine, 2015
Kai Lightner Sends His First 5.14d, Era Vella, Spain, Rock & Ice, 2015
First 5.14d for Kai Lightner, Dead Point Magazine, 2015
U.S. Sport Climbing Championship Won by 15 year-old Kai Lightner, Mercury News, 2015
Lightner and Miller Wins SCS Nationals 2015, Dead Point Magazine, 2015
Kai Lightner and Drew Ruana Take Top Spots at Youth World Championship, Dead Point Magazine, 2015
Ashima and Kai Light it up at the Ring of Fire, Gripped Climbing Magazine, 2014
14.C Film Featuring Teen Climber Kai Lightner and His Mom Wins Inspiration Award, National Geographic Adventure Blog, 2014
14 Year Old Kai Lightner Climbs Lucifer (5.14C), Rock & Ice, 2014
Kai Lightner Sends Lucifer 5.14C, Dead Point Magazine, 2014
Kai Lightner Sends Trebuchet, Dead Point Magazine, 2013
The Lightner Family: Teenage Champion.... , Cragmama.com, 2013
The Bionic Sloth, Rock & Ice, Issue 212, Sept. 2013 (pp. 18-19)
The World According to Kai, Dead Point Magazine, 2013 (pp. 18-35)
14C for Kai Lightner, Dead Point Magazine, 2013
Kai Lightner Cruises Southern Smoke, 8a.nu Climbing, 2013
Documentaries
Kai Lightner: No Days Off, Whistle Sports, 2018
UNINTERRUPTED Presents: Kai Lightner , 2017
Generation Up Interview, CLIF BAR 2015
Kai Lightner and Era Vella (2015)
14.C Documentary (8:46), National Geographic, 2014
Kai Lightner: Competitive Rockclimber (3-min Video Documentary), Fayetteville Observer, 2012
Publications
How Outdoor Companies Can Back Up Their DEI Pledges -by Kai Lightner, Outside Magazine, 2020
Open Your Eyes To The Reality Of Black Lives- by Kai Lightner, Rock & Ice , 2020
Kai Lightner Speaks Out About His Eating Disorder- by Kai Lightner, Outside Magazine, 2020
Journey to the Top- by Kai Lightner, REI , 2018
Between the Earth and the Sky- by Kai Lightner, Alpinist 55- Autumn 2016
New Beginnings- by Kai Lightner, Adidasoutdoor.com , 2016