Awarded the Piolets d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to mountaineering.
On September 19, 2020, Catherine Destivelle was awarded the Piolets d’Or Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her revolutionary contributions to the field of mountaineering and alpinism. This prestigious award is one of the highest honors a mountaineer can receive, often likened to the Nobel Prize in climbing.
This award celebrates her numerous pioneering ascents, her unwavering commitment to advancing women's roles in the sport, and her enduring legacy in both rock climbing and high-altitude alpinism. It acknowledges her as a role model whose achievements have inspired climbers worldwide, establishing new standards and breaking barriers for female athletes globally.