Kent Olympic climber hopes to 'inspire' others

Erin McNeice, from Rodmersham, has competed in her first Olympics

Climber Erin McNeice has said she hopes people are "inspired" to try out the sport after her Olympic debut.

The 20-year-old from Rodmersham in Kent narrowly missed out on Team GB's second climbing medal as she finished fifth in the women's boulder and lead final on Saturday.

Toby Roberts, from Surrey, won Great Britain's 14th gold medal in Paris on Friday in the men's boulder and lead event.

McNeice told BBC Sport: "More than anything else I just hope that people are proud and I hope that people are inspired and maybe give it a try".

McNeice's dad said his pride at his daughter's achievements was "off the scale of one to 100"

She was second to climb the wall in the lead element and set a competitive target of 127.6 points by making it two thirds of the way up the wall.

But McNeice was knocked off the top spot by Japan's Ai Mori, who scored an impressive 96.1 points by almost completing the climb.

American Brooke Raboutou, Austrian Jessica Pilz and Slovenia's Janja Garnbret also passed her score.

"I think there were lots of mistakes I made in the final," she said. "I climbed not very well on the lead route".

But she added "overall" it was good and she "really enjoyed it".

"This experience has been like nothing I've ever experienced before so hopefully it gives me a bit of confidence," she said.

Her dad, Carl McNeice, told BBC Sport he was "incredibly proud" of his daughter's achievement.

McNeice has never won a major medal but a fifth-placed finish at her debut Olympics caps a breakout year which included two bronzes at qualifying events.