I didn't know it was a race [updated]

Hazel climbs her first 8c - congrats :)

When did it become a race however. I thought climbing wasn't about competition, etc. Amusing to see the BMC trying to 'glam' it up a bit with some competitiveness :)

I'm all for developing the idea of progression and life-long progress in all, but I'm not so sure it needs to emphasise competition to have that incentive. Am I wrong?

[update: There was a little discussion about this on Facebook on my own page. Just want to emphasise I thought the interview itself was excellent, both from the interviewer and the interviewee. I just don't understand how the title and the ending of the article got twisted to turn it all into a race - of which there was no mention throughout the interview!]