Team USA athletes delivered standout performances at the World Climbing Series Comunidad de Madrid in Alcobendas, Spain, highlighted by a gold medal and Pan American record from Emma Hunt and a silver medal from Colin Duffy. The four-day competition brought together many of the world’s top Boulder and Speed athletes as they continued the 2026 World Climbing Series season.

Emma Hunt capped off an impressive weekend by claiming gold in Women’s Speed. Just weeks after narrowly missing the podium at the season opener in Wujiang, Hunt responded with a remarkable performance in Madrid, setting three personal bests in four races throughout the finals. She saved her fastest run for last, stopping the clock at 6.08 seconds in the gold-medal race to secure victory and establish a new Pan American record. Hunt’s record-setting performance further cemented her place among the world’s fastest speed climbers and continued an impressive rise on the international stage. Sophia Curcio also represented Team USA in finals, placing 13th.

Team USA also saw a strong showing in Men’s Speed. Zach Hammer advanced through qualifications and into the finals, ultimately finishing fourth after a tightly contested bronze-medal race. Hammer narrowly missed the podium by just 0.02 seconds, underscoring the growing depth and competitiveness of the U.S. Speed program against one of the strongest international fields of the season.

Michael Hom joined Hammer in the finals, continuing his strong international campaign against a stacked field of the world’s fastest speed climbers.

In Men’s Boulder, Colin Duffy earned his first podium finish of the 2026 season with a silver-medal performance. Duffy topped the opening three boulders in the final and led the competition for much of the round, appearing poised for victory. Japan’s Sorato Anraku ultimately secured the final top of the evening to narrowly overtake Duffy for gold, but the American’s 74.7-point performance secured a well-earned silver medal and marked a strong return to the podium.

Team USA also placed two athletes in the Women’s Boulder semifinals. Nekaia Sanders advanced to the semifinal round and finished 13th overall, while Melina Costanza secured a 15th place finish. Both athletes battled through a deep international field and gained valuable experience competing against many of the world’s top boulderers.

The Madrid event marked another successful international outing for Team USA, with Hunt’s historic Speed victory, Duffy’s Boulder silver medal, and several additional semifinal and finals appearances highlighting a strong weekend in Spain. As the World Climbing Series season continues, Team USA athletes will look to build on that momentum at upcoming events throughout the summer.