Team USA capped  the 2026 World Climbing Para Series season with 13 medals in Fukuoka, Japan, November 5-6. Across two days of competition, American athletes claimed medals in seven categories, with several familiar names continuing their dominant runs and a few new highlights along the way, including double-podium finishes in Women’s B3 and Women’s AU3.

Poston and Barkan Lock Down the Women’s B3 Podium

Linn Poston led qualifications from the top spot and backed it up in the final, topping the final wall to claim gold for Team USA. Phoebe Barkan qualified second and held her position through to the final, winning silver to give Team USA a clean 1-2 finish in the category.

W-B3 Podium:
Gold: Linn Poston (USA)
Silver: Phoebe Barkan (USA)
Bronze: Mika Maeoka (JPN)

Biendarra Earns Silver Again in Women’s B2

Seneida Biendarra continues to be a consistent presence on the Women’s B2 podium, qualifying second and winning silver behind Great Britain’s Abigail Robinson. Biendarra also claimed silver the previous week in Gunsan and this is her fourth podium this season.

W-B2 Podium:
Gold: Abigail Robinson (GBR)
Silver: Seneida Biendarra (USA)
Bronze: Linda Le Bon (AUT)

Ruiz Earns Silver in Women’s RP1

Melissa Ruiz led qualifications for the second consecutive event, earning silver behind the Netherlands’ Eva Mol to close out a strong 2026 campaign. Hannah Zook also advanced to the final for Team USA, finishing fourth.

W-RP1 Podium:
Gold: Eva Mol (NED)
Silver: Melissa Ruiz (USA)
Bronze: Charlotte Faist (GER)

Vorel Claims Bronze in Women’s RP3

Nat Vorel earned bronze in Women’s RP3 behind Slovenia’s Pia Purkart and Brazil’s Marina Dias. Crystal Martin also represented Team USA, finishing fourth in qualifications.

W-RP3 Podium:
Gold: Pia Purkart (SLO)
Silver: Marina Dias (BRA)
Bronze: Nat Vorel (USA)

Morningstar and Sturman Share AU3 Podium

Wanying Morningstar led qualifications and delivered in the final, taking gold. This is Morningstar’s second gold medal this season. Veronica Sturman added bronze for her first podium in just her second World Climbing Para Series competition. Jamie Schanbaum also represented Team USA, finishing fourth.

W-AU3 Podium:
Gold: Wanying Morningstar (USA)
Silver: Manca Smrekar (SLO)
Bronze: Veronica Sturman (USA)

Beck Earns Another Bronze in Women’s AU2

Veteran paraclimber Maureen Beck qualified third and earned bronze in the final, landing on the podium for the second consecutive Para Series event. Isabel Benvenuti finished fourth for Team USA, with Eleanor Rubin also competing in qualifications, finishing sixth.

W-AU2 Podium:
Gold: Solenne Piret (FRA)
Silver: Lucia Capovilla (ITA)
Bronze: Maureen Beck (USA)

Zarzuela Wins Back-to-Back Golds in Men’s AU2

Brian Zarzuela followed his victory in Gunsan with another gold in Fukuoka. After qualifying second, he won the Men’s AU2 final ahead of Norways Isak Ripman Brazil’s Eduardo Miguel Schaus. Chris Brelsford also made the final for Team USA, finishing fourth, while Matthew Lynch placing seventh in qualifications.

M-AU2 Podium:
Gold: Brian Zarzuela (USA)
Silver: Isak Ripman (NOR)
Bronze: Eduardo Miguel Schaus (BRA)

McKinley Claims Bronze in Men’s AU3

Nathan McKinley qualified third and earned bronze behind Switzerland’s Dominic Geisseler and Japan’s Nobuhiro Yasuraoka. Tyler Brooks and Cristian Valdes also represented Team USA in qualifications, finishing fifth and seventh respectively.

M-AU3 Podium:
Gold: Dominic Geisseler (SUI)
Silver: Nobuhiro Yasuraoka (JPN)
Bronze: Nathan McKinley (USA)

Mohammadi Earns Silver in Men’s B3

Hassan Mohammadi followed his gold in Gunsan with silver in Fukuoka. He qualified second and maintained that position into the final, finishing behind Japan’s Takumi Kawamura. Andrew Martinez and Gordon Fralick also represented Team USA in qualifications, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.

M-B3 Podium:
Gold: Takumi Kawamura (JPN)
Silver: Hassan Mohammadi (USA)
Bronze: Sebastian Schmitz (SUI)

Zilz Claims Gold in Men’s AL2

Ethan Zilz followed his podium finish in Gunsan with gold in Fukuoka. After advancing to the final in a three-way tie for third, he claimed victory ahead of Italy’s David Kammerer and Spain’s Rubén Roldán Bustos. Zachary Johnson also represented Team USA, finishing 11th in qualifications. On the women’s side, Cail Soria qualified for finals and delivered a strong performance on her way to earning bronze. Kira Brazinski also represented Team USA, finishing ninth in qualifications.

M-AL2 Podium:
Gold: Ethan Zilz (USA)
Silver: David Kammerer (ITA)
Bronze: Rubén Roldán Bustos (ESP)

W-AL2 Podium:
Gold: Lucie Jarrige (FRA)
Silver: Sarah Larcombe (AUS)
Bronze: Cail Soria (USA)

Full results from the World Climbing Para Series Fukuoka 2026 can be found here. You can rewatch a recap and qualification round highlights of the event on World Climbing’s YouTube channel.

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