This Rock Climbing Kid Has a Hidden Strength: His Super Mom | Short Film Showcase

14-year-old Kai Lightner is a rising superstar in the world of climbing. With his amazing skill and ability, he hopes to one day become a sport-climbing world champion. Always looking for the next challenge, Kai relies on the support and encouragement of his mother to chase after his dreams.
➡ Subscribe: bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe
➡ Get More Short Film Showcase: bit.ly/ShortFilmShowcase
About Short Film Showcase:
The Short Film Showcase spotlights exceptional short videos created by filmmakers from around the web and selected by National Geographic editors. We look for work that affirms National Geographic's belief in the power of science, exploration, and storytelling to change the world. The filmmakers created the content presented, and the opinions expressed are their own, not those of National Geographic Partners.
See more from National Geographic's Short Film Showcase at documentary.com
Get More National Geographic:
Official Site: bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite
Facebook: bit.ly/FBNatGeo
Twitter: bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter
Instagram: bit.ly/NatGeoInsta
In this touching short film by George Knowles, meet Kai and his incredible mother as they climb to new heights together.
More from George Knowles: goodiepocket.com/
This Rock Climbing Kid Has a Hidden Strength: His Super Mom | Short Film Showcase
• This Rock Climbing Kid...
National Geographic
/ natgeo

[@grahampalmer]

What a lovely young man and he's so lucky to have such a strong and supportive mother. I wish them both happiness.

[@kuryamtl]

Props to his mom for supporting him in this, and props to him for accomplishing so much.

[@jd0614]

that mom deserves an award as well

[@chuffer595]

Love it when climbers get this kind of attention outside of climbing circles. Especially The young guns!

[@andysanchez5423]

Him: i like rock climbing what do you like Me: i like watching 24/7 streams of spongebob

[@BlazingBlackBolshevik]

Andy Sanchez the comments section are aids though

[@andysanchez5423]

Tracy Jones agreed

[@BatuYangHidup]

Kai Lightner I hope you read this one day. Stay humble mate and come climb here with me in Malaysia one day :)

[@r3dm4il]

shout out to super mom

[@JoePriceJWP3]

Incredible well paced technique for such a young climber I believe this guy deserves to be in big spotlight. Climbing grades I wish I could climb and The love for this sport and his mom is admirable happy Mother's Day to all the awesome mothers!

[@vashusan1984]

Met and climbed with Kai in SLC just for about an hour. Super nice and humble kid, his mom is a hoot too. It's great to see how strong she supports him. Good people and great climber! Hopefully I get another opportunity to hang.

[@adventureswithgnomie6553]

he is amazing - we need more outside adventure for kids. kudos to his Mom for raising a great young man.

[@jackmanning809]

You know he's only going to get stronger as he gets older. Look out for this kid.

[@Anonymoose]

I WAS wondering if he was going to try real rocks, and I got chills when I saw that West Virginia sign flash by. That's where I grew up, and there and southwestern Virginia are where I learned to climb. The challenges there are limitless! The boy is pure genius, climbing is in his blood, and one of these days we'll be watching him free climb El Capitan.

[@carolyngaulin7822]

That young man it is so inspiring and his mom is great too ! 💞💞

[@Thataussiebattler]

Such a good Mom and an awesome son!!!...i would be so proud!.

[@alexandrugheorghe5610]

Very inspirational! Good job to the both of them!

[@p1nesap]

World class momma.

[@probablystalkingyou]

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms watching this.

[@chipmunk449]

NatGeo should fund this kid. ;)

[@d.l.232]

LEFT HANDED!

[@ChristopherOkhravi]

This is incredibly beautiful. Thank you very much for sharing this :)

[@klawakrokk3989]

Golden mom. Golden boy 💛💛💛

[@peterpalivoslasvegas9409]

Very inspirational!

[@2WOKE-]

Really awesome story! Thanks!

[@x3xGR33Dx]

damn he's got the rock climbing stubs all over his room too

[@arimax888]

Bless him & his family,good for him :0

[@hihihi45ify]

How cool kiddo!!!! Keep going!

[@flyingcownipples1295]

Wish I had started climbing when I was that young. Just started a year ago though so I still have a lot of work to do.

[@27sherpa]

very inspiring.

[@mr.mendez515]

great kit!!

[@amandapadron4664]

Good for him !

[@peterdodson4685]

She is such a good mom.

[@TheRonnierate]

Go, go, go!!!!

[@icicestparis]

He has a great mother

[@sciencesaves]

go kai! Ill see you out on the cragg

[@belindazhou4202]

HES SO YOUNG

[@blakegranquist481]

Why was this published just now, he's like 16 years old now

[@jeremyg1833]

Yeah, we saw this at Bamf Film Festival back in 2015. haha

[@minns5515]

he sounds so mature

[@BLACKLOTUSBUTTERFLY7]

naysayers. disclaimers. disrespect. sarcasm. envy, jealousy, racism. and mean souls abound and still HE rises by Gods grace because that IS sufficient. May The Creator continue to bless his life and that of his mother. What a remarkable and determined young man with the heart of a Lion!!!

[@dannersmyers]

6:56 holy shit that figure 8 is half untied!! Maybe it's time to tie a stopper knot just to be safe..

[@gobbidimerda2496]

At 5.13 too...

[@williamescobar1957]

tha Honda tho 2:56

[@Phaztik]

Lowered Honda 2:57... someone had to

[@Rabiecakes]

❤

[@stephenobrien7647]

he is fourteen and climbing 5.14? thats insane

[@kubensallgood4154]

Props to his mom for being so supportive, but kid should wear a helmet when he's climbing outside. Even if he does it twice a year.

[@gobbidimerda2496]

Am I wrong or the knot, at 5.13, is not tighten...?

[@DP-rb5xq]

Nope it's pretty loose

[@belindazhou4202]

OMG HES SO OLD NOW JUST WATCHED A BOULDER NATIONALS AND HE CAMES 2ND

[@MITCHELFREE]

cool

[@KittySYT]

My mom just told me that she wishes she had a kid like this boy... Thank you NG for ruining my weekend! 😡

[@hellsangel2005]

ummm is this a repost of an olxer national geographic?

[@sickgringo007]

Why is he not wearing a helmet?

[@cyanko1767]

is this kai now? ? he looks older and taller/bigger in some comp vids ive seen.

[@taviklar8865]

Minkyu Ko no this video is a few years old

[@KamiInValhalla]

Yay Fayatteville is good for smt other than Fort Bragg.

[@chewba2008]

Great mom and great kid! We need more black people in climbing, command you guys!!

[@froncagliolofr]

he's 16 now and a lot taller ahah

[@vladimir1834]

not trying to belittle his accomplishments because he's amazing but I'm just saying, he has it easy, his mom has the money and time to support him. man , if I told my mom that K wanted to try rock climbing as a sport she would be like how much do they pay, how long does it take, I don't have the money sorry lol

[@RichestManInTatooine]

Yeah you will be no one. Sorry LOL. -.-

[@pinkponyofprey1965]

I know! I've got it! He's a ... CLIMBER!!! Right?

[@marcushoban3382]

8C+ !?!?

[@FrankyyyFrank]

Pfff... Hold my beer

[@mrmcclintock534]

evolv, clever name. v(vertical)love backwards

[@CodeiBan1]

back music too loud maybe useless

[@VEE3RDEYE]

Rad

[@gnarjar1]

#BlueRanger

[@alexanderjagell2963]

5.13 into the vid. is the knot suppose to look like that? Not a climber here.

[@MichalOlender]

Are there a lot of Mexican climbers?

[@yomommastupid]

That's a first for me to see someone black climbing...

[@cornelksttx2080]

Good kid but hope he is safe from the pigs

[@MrUsername121211]

Kai is 17 now. WTf

[@hellsangel2005]

post some relevant stuff

[@OrlieJohn]

first

[@yourmajesty7012]

That's interesting, sad that the dad is not around but it seems that a lot of men don't want to care for their children

[@kdash64]

Your Majesty So, you're just going to assume that the father is not there because he doesn't want to care for his son?

[@yourmajesty7012]

Daily Light if he cared he would have made an effort to be in this video supporting his son, if you noticed the son didn't mention his dad once, he mentioned his mom and his coach, if his dad was in his life at all then the boy would have mentioned him

[@yourmajesty7012]

AstralJackz the only excuse I'll accept is if he died, other than that there is no reason why he wasn't mentioned by the boy

[@AstralJackz]

what makes you think anyone gives a fuck about what you'll accept you dried apricot

[@yourmajesty7012]

AstralJackz you sound like a bitter black man

[@r-monsolace2630]

Never a black father around.......... smh

[@TheHoliestPanda]

R-Mon Damage fuck off just enjoy the video

[@r-monsolace2630]

S Relax You Fucking Horse.

[@TheHoliestPanda]

R-Mon Damage Nah like honestly, did you havd to make a racist joke in this video? smh

[@r-monsolace2630]

S Did you hadda comment ??

[@samuelarmstrong3926]

R-Mon Damage stereotype

[@Marauder1981]

Like so many gym rats he climbs through strengh but his technique stinks

[@QthAgR8]

This is weird

[@brunsta234]

this seems fake

[@calvin6705]

dwd ded BC its nat geo pros at everything

[@emitannie2311]

I like the whole story, it's inspiring. But, kid? boy or girl?! I'm distracted of his voice. 🙈