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Elli Pukallus

@elli.pukallus

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✞ • RP3 paraclimber • occupational therapist

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October is AVM awareness month 🦋

This October (2026) also marks two years since my adaptive climbing journey started after my last AVM treatment.

An AVM is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels, disrupting normal blood flow between an artery and vein. AVMs are a rare condition that are believed to occur as a result of blood vessels not developing correctly as a fetus. They are often located in the brain, but can also be elsewhere, such as in the arm or leg. For me, my AVM is in my right lower leg and involves the bone, muscle and nerve.

The effect of my AVM has led to chronic pain, muscle weakness, foot drop (the inability to lift my foot up) and a mobility impairment.
Due to my muscle weakness and foot drop, I climb in an adaptive way using my left leg and my right knee.

#avm #peripheralavm #avmawarenessmonth #footdrop #adaptiveclimbing by @elli.pukallus

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8 days ago

2026 NSW Para Climbing Titles 🩵

Such sweet shots from @cuppa_t_ 📸
@sportclimbingnsw taken in Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym St Peters by @elli.pukallus

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17 days ago

My favourite part of climbing - the community 🩵

@cuppa_t_ 📸
@sportclimbingnsw taken in Sydney Indoor Climbing Gym St Peters by @elli.pukallus

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17 days ago

2026 NSW Para Climbing Titles 🥇

The medal collection is slowly growing after coming away with 1st in the women’s RP3 category as well as overall 1st for women. The many hours of gym work, on wall training and weekly coaching sure are paying off.

It was fantastic to see the paraclimbing team again and to witness just how much everyone has improved.
Thanks for putting on a great comp @sportclimbingnsw

#paraclimbing #adaptiveathlete by @elli.pukallus

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a month ago

Sydney, you won my heart 🩵

A long weekend full of so many new experiences:
- First time to Syndey
- First NSW climbing comp
- First solo interstate trip as a wheelchair user

The idea of travelling independently with a wheelchair once completely scared me, but I’m pleased to report that everything went super smoothly and I can’t wait for the next trip. I’m feeling so thankful for the disability advocates that came before me and made travel more accessible.

#sydney #accessibility #wheelchairuser by @elli.pukallus

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a month ago

What a weekend of climbing @sportclimbingqueensland’s QLD Open & Para Lead Titles

It was fantastic to get the paraclimbing gang back together again for a state level comp. After topping both of the qualification climbs, the route setters managed to spice up the finals climb enough to spit me off the wall going for the 2nd last hold.

Thanks heaps to the dedicated volunteers and sponsors that made the comp possible. A special shout out to coach @zac_marsden_ep for all of the support over the weekend and working up to the comp. Thank you to @rockit_climbing_gym and @anytimefitnessnambour for providing such great training facilities so that I could perform at my best.

#paraclimbing #adaptiveathlete #onelegclimbing by @elli.pukallus

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

Dear route setters…

Thank you for continuing to challenge my beta breaking skills each and every week. I just couldn’t quite beta break my way out of the right heel hook finish on this super fun boulder 🫣

#climbing #bouldering #paraclimbing #adaptiveclimbing #onelegclimbing by @elli.pukallus

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3 months ago

Such a sweet one-arm spin boulder 🫨

#bouldering #paraclimbing #adaptiveclimbing #rp3 by @elli.pukallus

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4 months ago

First place in RP3 at my first National Paraclimbing Cup 🥹🥇

23.05.26 was my biggest dream come true. I had the privilege of competing amongst some of the best paraclimbers not only in Australia, but internationally. The athletes that I climbed with were not only insanely strong but resilient, creative and empowering.

Thank you to the dedicated staff, volunteers, and supporters for making events like these possible. A special shout out to @rockit_climbing_gym and @anytimefitnessnambour for providing such great training facilities so that I could perform at my best. Most importantly, thank you to my family and climbing friends for their unwavering support.

#climbing #paraclimbing #adaptiveathlete #adaptiveclimbing #onelegclimbing by @elli.pukallus

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5 months ago

Project boulder finally ticked ✅ @rockit_climbing_gym

#climbing #bouldering #adaptiveclimbing #paraclimbing #onelegclimbing by @elli.pukallus

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6 months ago

♡ A lovely weekend celebrating a beautiful couple ♡

#wedding #love taken in Gold Coast Hinterland by @elli.pukallus

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6 months ago