On a recent trip to Gole del Melfa in Italy, Laura Rogora made the first ascent of L’Ultimo Ruggito 5.14d (9a). For her warm-up that day, she onsighted Leoni Alfa 5.14b (8c). To cool down, she sent another 5.14b, Lo Squalo di Macerata. Until recently, 5.14b was the hardest grade to have been onsighted by a woman. It was Rogora who broke the record in July of this year with her onsight of Ultimate Sacrifice 5.14c in Gorges du Loup.
Just last week, Rogora climbed Il Terzo Occhio 5.14d in Castello di Drena, Arco (while being sick with the flu). That means she has racked up two 5.14d’s, one of which is an FA, and two 5.14b’s, one of which was an onsight, within the span of 5 days.
“On Monday I climbed in Gole del Melfa, starting the day with an on-sight of Leoni Alfa [5.14b],” said Rogora on Instagram. “Then I checked the direct exit — L’ultimo Ruggito, a project bolted by Roberto “Limetta”. Such a beautiful line! An endurance section on tufas and blobs that leads in 10 meters of crimps without really hard moves, but sustained until the chain. Sent it second go and proposed [5.14d].
“To wrap up the day, I climbed Lo Squalo di Macerata, another new [5.14b]. Yesterday, Limetta brought me to La Cueva to try another new project. The last boulder might be a bit too hard for me, but if anyone’s looking for new hard lines, that one’s definitely worth checking out! Moreover, there are still many beautiful routes around Rome I climbed in the past years that are waiting for the First repetition—since my physical characteristics and climbing style are quite unique, I’d love to know what others think about the grades!”
Rogora has one of the most impressive sport climbing resumes in the world. In July, she onsighted 5.14c, the hardest female onsight ever. On the same day, she ticked Trip Tik Tonik, 5.14d. Her hardest first female ascent to date is Erebor 5.15b, which she climbed in 2021. She has many 5.15a sends, most of which were female first ascents.
She’s well-known for extremely sendy short trips to various areas around Europe. In late 2024/early 2025, for example, she visited Mišja Peč in Slovenia, where over the course of a week – with no rest days – she redpointed Sanjski Par Extension 5.14d, Xaxid Hostel 5.14d (on her sixth go), Martin Krpan 5.14d (on her fourth go), Človek Ne Jezi Se L2 5.14c (on her second go), Hysteria 5.14c (on her third go), and Sanjski Par 5.14c. She also clipped the chains on two 5.14b routes, Strelovod and Talk is Cheap.