Denver, Colorado hosted its first-ever IFSC Climbing World Cup this past weekend, marking the third Speed World Cup of the season. The event drew 82 athletes from 19 countries and territories, including 19 competitors representing Team USA. Among them were four Olympians—Zach Hammer, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly, and Sam Watson—as well as every medalist from the season’s previous Speed World Cups. For five Team USA athletes, this event marked their World Cup debut.

The competition unfolded on May 31 and June 1 in the heart of downtown Denver on 16th Street. Despite unexpected weather disrupting and ultimately ending the all-outdoor event early, the results remained official. Final rankings were based on the top eight athletes’ fastest times during Qualification. Under these circumstances, three Olympians from Team USA earned gold, silver, and bronze.

Hunt Claims Her Second Gold

9 women represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Denver 2025, with Emma Hunt advancing to Finals. 

Olympian Emma Hunt breezed through the Qualification rounds after her opponent slipped during her first race, then matched her Pan American record of 6.36 seconds in her second run. Hunt had a chance the next day to compete in the 1/8 round before the weather rolled in, maintaining her gold status with a time of 6.49 seconds. This marks Hunt’s second time earning gold, though she expressed mixed feelings about the win due to the conditions.

“Good, a little weird, but good. It’s weird because I only did three races to get the medal. I would have loved to have done all the races but that’s the weather,” Hunt said. “It was super cool to have had the chance to do a few laps in front of a home crowd, and I hope we can come back to Denver.”
Also representing Team USA for Speed in the Qualification round were Liberty Runnels, Emiko Takeuchi, Lily Nguyen, Micaela Patajo, Madi Walsh, Isis Rothfork, Sophia Curcio, and Piper Kelly. Piper Kelly and Lily Nguyen raced side by side as teammates with Kelly prevailing in 8th place, setting a personal best of 7.02 seconds. In a post-race interview, Kelly expressed her satisfaction.

“It was the best qualification I ever had actually. IFSC PB’s in both practice and quali runs so I am super psyched to have such a good comp in front of my hometown crowd,” Kelly said.
Denver marked Nguyen’s second World Cup, where she placed 24th with a time of 8.39 seconds.

Rothfork was almost exactly evenly matched with her opponent, winning by only 0.334 seconds and coming in 15th even though she fell on her second run. Walsh wasn’t far behind with 7.79 seconds in 17th. During her second run, Rothfork raced side by side with Runnels. Curcio was close by in 19th place with 7.93 seconds. Although she had a slower start, Patajo propelled to the buzzer with a time of 8.32 seconds as her opponent slipped and couldn’t recover as well. Patajo finished in 22nd, .05 seconds in front of Runnels, who raced alongside Takeuchi. Runnels prevailed in 23rd after Takeuchi stuttered at the beginning, landing her in 26th at her first World Cup.

Women’s Podium:
Emma Hunt (USA)
Natalie Kalucka (POL)
Lijuan Deng (CHN)

Hammer and Watson Podium Back to Back

10 men represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Denver 2025, with Michael Hom, Zach Hammer and Sam Watson advancing to Finals. 

Olympian Zach Hammer raced alongside Merritt Ernsberger in the Qualification round, where Ernsberger prevailed, setting a personal best of 5.27 seconds after Hammer slipped unexpectedly. During his second round, Hammer made up for that slip-up with a stunning run that ended in 4.88 seconds, giving him not only the silver medal but also a new personal best. When asked how it felt to podium in front of his home crowd, Hammer couldn’t contain his excitement.

“When I walked out onto the stage for finals, I honestly don’t think I have had a larger crowd cheering for me at any competition so that really lit a fire in me,” Hammer said.

That fire earned him another sub-five-second run of 4.99 seconds in the Round of 16 during Finals. Olympian Sam Watson has already set multiple world records this season, and recorded two sub-five-second runs during Qualification. He ultimately finished just behind Hammer, missing silver by only 0.1 second and taking bronze instead.

Meanwhile, Ernsberger chipped away at his personal best by 0.11 seconds during his second race, placing him in 17th.

Hom set a new personal best of 5.09 seconds in the Qualification round, then returned to set a personal best of 5.08 seconds in Finals.

Also representing Team USA for Speed in the Qualification round were Logan Schlecht, Noah Bratschi, Ben Jennings, Zaden Rogers, Taede Mai, and Aidan Goddard.

Jennings and Schlecht ranked 30th and 31st respectively, separated by only 0.1 second. For Schlecht, Denver marked not only his World Cup debut, but also a new personal best of 5.38 seconds compared to his previous record of 5.45 seconds. Meanwhile, Jennings finished with 5.37 seconds, beating his own personal best of 5.49 seconds after missing it by only 0.1 seconds during his first run.

Bratschi climbed almost completely in unison with his opponent before falling just shy of his personal best of 5.35 seconds with a time of 5.46 seconds. Finishing in 33rd place, Denver marked Bratschi’s 26th World Cup, making him the US athlete with the most World Cup experience in the entire competition. Goddard placed 35th, 0.05 seconds ahead of Rogers who finished 37th with a time of 5.56 seconds. Denver marked Rogers’ World Cup debut, as well as the day that he beat his personal best by a whole 3.16 seconds.

Mai also made his World Cup debut this weekend, finishing his first run in 8.64 seconds even after two slips. He recovered during his second race with 6.81 seconds, landing him in 49th.

Men’s Podium:
Kiromal Katibin (INA)
Zach Hammer (USA)
Samuel Watson (USA)

IFSC Climbing World Cup Denver 2025 Team Ranking:
United States (USA)
China (CHN)
Italy (ITA)

Full results from the IFSC Climbing World Cup 2025 can be found here. You can rewatch the Finals on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

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