World Cup season continues this weekend in Innsbruck, Austria! 13 athletes from Team USA, including Olympian Colin Duffy, will be in attendance. The event will feature both Boulder and Lead, with four athletes competing in both disciplines.

The event runs from June 25–29 at the same venue as the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup 2025, which is scheduled just beforehand. Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, the world’s largest climbing gym, also serves as the national training center for the Austrian National Climbing Team.

How to Livestream the World Cup

You can watch the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2025 Semi-Final and Final rounds live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting with the Men’s Boulder Qualification on Wednesday, June 25th at 1:00 a.m. MDT and ending with the Women’s Lead Finals on Sunday, June 29th at 11:40 a.m. MDT.

USA Climbing Athletes Who Are Competing

Men’s Boulder Athletes

Colin Duffy | Innsbruck will be Duffy’s 40th World Cup
Joshua Gerhardt | Innsbruck will be Gerhardt’s sixth World Cup
Benjamin Hanna | Innsbruck will be Hanna’s 31st World Cup
Vail Everett | Innsbruck will be Everett’s fifth World Cup
Sergey Lakhno | Innsbruck will be Lakhno’s third World Cup
Jesse Grupper | Innsbruck will be Grupper’s 33rd World Cup

Women’s Boulder Athletes

Maya Madere | Innsbruck will be Madere’s 24th World Cup
Ella Fisher | Innsbruck will be Fisher’s fifth World Cup
Adriene Akiko Clark | Innsbruck will be Clark’s 20th World Cup
Nekaia Sanders | Innsbruck will be Sanders’ eighth World Cup
Annie Sanders | Innsbruck will be Sanders’ 21st World Cup
Cloe Coscoy | Innsbruck will be Coscoy’s 25th World Cup
Helen Gillett | Innsbruck will be Gillett’s 11th World Cup

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

The IFSC Para Climbing World Cup series continues with the second event of the season in Innsbruck, Austria! This is the third time a Para Climbing World Cup has been held in Innsbruck. 39 USA athletes across 17 categories will be competing. For two USA athletes, this will be their first World Cup. A guide to all Para categories can be found here.

The event will take place at Kletterzentrum Innsbruck, the largest climbing gym in the world, from June 23-24.

How To Watch

You can watch the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Innsbruck 2025 Finals live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel, with Qualification beginning on Monday, June 23rd at 1:00 a.m. MDT. Finals for every category will start on Tuesday, June 24th at 8:30 a.m. MDT.

USA Climbing Athletes Who Are Competing

Men B1

• Ahmad Seyar Rahimi | Innsbruck will be Rahimi’s second World Cup

Men B3

• Gordon Fralick | Innsbruck will be Fralick’s second World Cup

Women B1

• Gina Applebee | Innsbruck will be Applebee’s second World Cup

Women B2

• Seneida Biendarra | Innsbruck will be Biendarra’s fourth World Cup

Women B3

• Linn Poston | Innsbruck will be Poston’s third World Cup
• Phoebe Barkan | Innsbruck will be Barkan’s fourth World Cup
• Jessica Semmel | Innsbruck will be Semmel’s second World Cup

Men AL1

• Garrison Redd | Innsbruck will be Redd’s second World Cup

Women AL1

• Andrea Wilson | Innsbruck will be Wilson’s second World Cup
• Brittany Chadbourne | Innsbruck will be Chadbourne’s third World Cup

Men AL2

• Raphael Misael | Innsbruck will be Misael’s first World Cup
• Corey Ramos | Innsbruck will be Ramos’ second World Cup
• Ethan Zilz | Innsbruck will be Zilz’s third World Cup 7th World Cup

Men AU2

• Dylan Restek | Innsbruck will be Restek’s fourth World Cup
• Matthew Lynch | Innsbruck will be Lynch’s 11th World Cup
• Brian Zarzuela | Innsbruck will be Zarzuela’s 9th World Cup

Women AU2

• Elise Morley | Innsbruck will be Morley’s second World Cup
• Isabel Benvenuti | Innsbruck will be Benvenuti’s fifth World Cup

Men RP1

• Alan Belyea | Innsbruck will be Belyea’s second World Cup
• Connor King | Innsbruck will be King’s fourth World Cup

Men RP2

• Benjamin Mayforth | Innsbruck will be Mayforth’s 12th World Cup
• Johnny Quintana | Innsbruck will be Quintana’s second World Cup
• Brayden Butler | Innsbruck will be Butler’s 9th World Cup

Men RP3

• Dennis Connors | Innsbruck will be Connors’ second World Cup
• Deva Ramireddy | Innsbruck will be Ramireddy’s second World Cup
• Ian Gleason | Innsbruck will be Gleason’s fifth World Cup
• Oliver Carnazzo | Innsbruck will be Carnazzo’s third World Cup

Women RP1

• Melissa Ruiz | Innsbruck will be Ruiz’s 11th World Cup
• Hanna Zook | Innsbruck will be Zook’s 11th World Cup
• Jackie Stewart | Innsbruck will be Stewart’s second World Cup
• Tiffany Yu | Innsbruck will be Yu’s first World Cup
• Chelsea Urse | Innsbruck will be Urse’s First World Cup

Women RP2

• Caroline Winstel | Innsbruck will be Winstel’s 8th World Cup
• Emily Seelenfreund | Innsbruck will be Seelenfreund’s fifth World Cup
• Anna Devries | Innsbruck will be Devries’ second World Cup

Women RP3

• Lindsay Purcell | Innsbruck will be Purcell’s 10th World Cup
• Crystal Martin | Innsbruck will be Martin’s second World Cup
• Nat Vorel | Innsbruck will be Vorel’s sixth World Cup

Men AU3

• Mason Keough | Innsbruck will be Keough’s second World Cup

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Bern, Switzerland hosted its second Climbing World Cup from June 12–15, drawing 170 athletes from 41 countries and territories to the newly opened BERNEXPO venue near the Aare River. Among the competitors were 10 athletes from Team USA, including Olympians Kyra Condie and Colin Duffy. All of Team USA’s female athletes arrived in Bern fresh off a strong showing at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Prague earlier this month.

Annie Sanders, Kyra Condie, and Colin Duffy all advanced to Semi-Finals, with Sanders and Duffy ultimately securing spots in Finals.

Duffy Leads Men’s Category for Team USA in Finals

In Semi-Finals, Colin Duffy topped M1 on his 7th attempt with one minute left after repeatedly reaching the zone move. Because of this last-minute score, Duffy was tied with two other athletes for 7th place for nearly the entire Semi-Finals round. Eventually, after achieving a zone on the aggressive M3 climb on his third attempt, Duffy ended the day tied with only one other athlete. Notably, Duffy fell on the last move of M3.

In Finals, Duffy maintained his 7th place standing, earning zones on M2 and M4—both on his second attempt. While a few coordination slips impacted his overall score, he excelled on the slower, compression-heavy problems.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round were Vail Everett in 57th, Joshua Gerhardt in 71st, and Benjamin Hanna in 77th, each finishing in a tie with at least one other athlete.

Annie Sanders Takes Silver After Three-Way Tie in Semi-Finals

In Semi-Finals, Annie Sanders squeezed into Finals in a three-way tie with two other athletes, all of whom achieved a score of 54.3 (with one top and four zones). Sanders’ buzzer-beater top of W4 pushed Olympian Kyra Condie out of Finals by just 0.2 points. Notably, Sanders was the only athlete to top the problem. In Finals, Sanders slowly cruised the technical movement needed to flash W1 and W2—which she executed perfectly. Despite competing in back-to-back World Cups, Sanders showed no signs of fatigue, climbing with her signature calm and confident demeanor. She finished Finals with a silver medal, her fourth World Cup medal this season and eighth overall.

Although she narrowly missed Finals, Condie had an impressive Semi-Final round as the only athlete to top the heavily coordination-dependent W1 problem—a moment that left even her surprised as she turned to the crowd in disbelief. Though that would be her only top of the round, she secured zones on the remaining three climbs, all within three attempts.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round were Cloe Coscoy in 29th, Helen Gillett in 31st, Nekaia Sanders in 35th (tied with one other athlete), and Adriene Akiko Clark in 37th (tied with one other athlete).

Women’s Podium:
Erin McNeice (GBR)
Annie Sanders (USA)
Miho Nanaka (JPN)

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

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

The fourth competition of the 2025 North American Cup Series (NACS) continued this weekend in Vail, Colorado at the GoPro Mountain Games featuring competitors in both Speed and Boulder. The series, which allows athletes from the Americas to compete at an elite level outside of the World Cup circuit, saw participation by rising talent from both the World Cup and Olympic circuit.

An incredible 266 athletes traveled to Vail Ski Resort, with 65 of those athletes competing in Speed at Nature Valley Mountain Plaza. Meanwhile, 210 competed in Boulder at The Hangout at Golden Peak. This is the first time Speed has joined the North American Cup Vail, with both disciplines being held outside, framed by Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.

Hunt Surprises Nobody With Gold Performance at First North American Cup Vail

An hour after qualifying for Boulder Finals, Olympian Emma Hunt stepped up to the Speed wall—without her harness. After a quick laugh, she cruised through the 1/8 round with a time of 6.99 seconds, then closed out Finals with a time of 6.44 seconds. Though commentators noted the event was more lighthearted for her, Hunt still came close to her personal best.

Despite her Olympic experience, this is Hunt’s first appearance at the North American Cup Vail, largely because Speed climbing—her specialty—wasn’t previously included. With its recent addition, that’s beginning to change not only for Hunt, but for the rest of the podium.

Olympian Piper Kelly took Silver, finishing the Final round in 7.39 seconds against fellow Olympian Hunt, while Liberty Runnels claimed Bronze with a time of 8.11 seconds in the Small Final over Kailer Kordewick. In the last move of Runnels’ 1/4 round, she pulled ahead of Emiko Takeuchi, beating her to the next round by 0.08 seconds. Like Hunt, both Kelly and Runnels are relative newcomers to the NACS circuit, taking advantage of Speed’s long-awaited debut.

Women’s Speed Podium: 

Emma Hunt (USA)
Piper Kelly (USA)
Liberty Runnels (USA)

Hom Has Stand-out Performance at First North American Cup Vail

Michael Hom, after racing several of his Sender One teammates earlier in the bracket, faced Dylan Le in the Final round, clocking a time of 5.18 seconds. His fastest run of the competition, however, came in the 1/2 round, where he posted a time of 5.14 seconds. Hom decisively earned Gold, with all competitors trailing him by at least half a second.

Dylan Le took Silver after racing against Hom in the Final, with his fastest time of 5.73 seconds during the 1/8 round. Lucas Vales took Bronze with his fastest time of 5.90 seconds during the 1/8 round, racing neck-and-neck alongside his competitors almost every round. Like Hom, both Le and Vales are relatively new to the NACS circuit despite prior IFSC World Cup experience, and are now taking full advantage of Speed’s long-awaited inclusion.

Men’s Speed Podium: 

Michael Hom (USA)
Dylan Le (USA)
Lucas Vales (USA)

Countryman Jumps From Fifth to Gold 

Dillon Countryman narrowly beat Hugo Dorval to Gold after both athletes topped the same number of climbs. However, Countryman prevailed by flashing M3 and M4. Shorter than most of his fellow competitors, Countryman was able to fit into the wingspan boxes intended by the setters on most of his climbs. This asset helped him on M1, where with 15 seconds left, Countryman flew off the finishing hold after being the closest athlete to top it.

Climbing from fifth place in Semi-Finals to first in Finals, Countryman was asked what switched for him between both rounds.

“I just remind myself that anything can happen, and that I just need to keep my composure together, and whatever happens, happens,” Countryman said.

This jump in placement didn’t just happen to Countryman, and in fact, happened to every athlete on the Finals podium. Hugo Dorval and Simon Hibbeler also finished Semi-Finals off the podium in sixth and seventh place respectively, with Countryman and Dorval technically having the same score separated by attempts.

Their similar abilities became clearer when Dorval, the only athlete to flash M2, finished just behind Countryman in Finals, earning him Silver. Dorval’s precise footwork gave him the confidence not only to top M4 statically, but to also throw a dyno to the finish—even after securing the top. Meanwhile, Hibbeler squeezed through to Bronze, managing to statically span moves that his opponents had to jump for. Hibbeler finished Finals with the same technical score as Dorval of 84.6. However, Hibbeler took one more attempt on M2, which bumped him down to Bronze.

Men’s Boulder Podium: 

Dillon Countryman (USA)
Hugo Dorval (CAN)
Simon Hibbeler (USA)

Arnold Tops Every Climb and Takes First Gold

Courtney Arnold is a frequent NACS competitor but had never podiumed—until now. Her strong skills were on full display on W1, where she became the first athlete to balance on the incredibly shallow second volume before reaching the top on her second attempt. Her reaction showed just how shocked she was, with the roaring crowd reassuring her.

With her confidence at an all-time high, Arnold went on to top every climb—something no other athlete was able to do. Arnold finished Finals with a score of 99.2.

Norah Chi, a veteran in both the NACS and youth series, made extremely quick progress on every one of her climbs, flashing every one but W3, which she fell on during the last move with 15 seconds left on the clock. Notably, the only athlete to make it past the zone on W3 was Arnold. Still, Chi showed incredible control and composure to make every attempt her best, which was shown by her repeated flashes. Despite her slip, Chi finished Finals in Silver with a score of 85.0. Finally, after just winning Gold in Speed Finals, Olympian Emma Hunt took Bronze at her first Boulder NACS, topping W1 and flashing W4. Hunt finished Finals with a score of 59.9.

Women’s Boulder Podium: 

Courtney Arnold (USA)
Norah Chi (USA)
Emma Hunt (USA)

You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds of the 2025 NACS Vail at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. The next NACS competition will be hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada from June 21-22 in Edmonton, Canada and will feature the Lead and Speed disciplines.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.

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.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This past weekend, 18 Team USA athletes competed on home turf in Salt Lake City, Utah for the IFSC Climbing World Cup. Hosted at USA Climbing’s National Training Center, which serves as the go-to training location for much of Team USA, athletes traveled from 28 countries and territories across four continents. It was the first World Cup of the season held in North America, welcoming an ecstatic crowd of more than 3,500 spectators.

Sanders Claims 2nd Bronze This Season 

10 women represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2025, with Annie Sanders advancing to Finals. Following Sanders in Semi-Finals were Helen Gillett, Kyra Condie, and Cloe Coscoy. 

Annie Sanders advanced to Finals after topping every climb in Semi-Finals. Once in Finals, she quickly flashed W1, executing a smooth swing into a compression move before settling into a full split. With the crowd roaring behind her, Sanders spent two whole minutes on the wall, noting the crowd’s enthusiasm in a post-competition interview.

“The crowd was insane today,” said Sanders after her win. “They definitely brought a lot of energy and I’m super grateful for this sport!”

Sanders also earned a flash on W2, executing the crux foot-switch perfectly, staying composed and focused the entire time. Although her streak of flashes ended there, Sanders went into another full split on W3 before successfully crimping a thumb catch—again captivating the audience. Sanders, Zélia Avezou of France, and Oriane Bertone of France all tied with a score of 70.0 points, separated only by their performances earlier in the competition.

Women’s Podium:
Mao Nakamura (JPN)
Zélia Avezou (FRA)
Annie Sanders (USA)

Gillett Achieves Personal Best at a World Cup

Competing in Semi-Finals were Helen Gillett, Kyra Condie, and Cloe Coscoy. Gillett has fewer World Cup appearances than her fellow competitors, with her debut on the world stage being in 2023. Since then, Gillett has placed consistently in Qualification rounds and achieved her first Semi-Final in Curitiba just a few weeks ago. This weekend, Gillett achieved a standout performance in the Qualification round.

“I got zone on the last boulder, which was also a slab, and that zone is what put me into the Semi-Final. I’m really excited. Brazil was my first Semi-Final, and I was definitely feeling the pressure. I didn’t feel very light-hearted, and I’m feeling much more present and ready to go here. So, yeah, I’m excited to throw it down and climb how I know I can,” Gillett said after finding out she made Semi-Finals.

This time, her flash of W1 in the Semi-Final round, combined with judges granting her a second chance at W3 after a judging error, set the stage for Finals. Unfortunately, although Gillett had the same score as the athlete who took 8th place, the tie was broken according to the athlete’s Qualification scores, which bumped Gillett out of her potential first World Cup Finals. Despite the tie-break, Gillett achieved her best World Cup result to date and finished Semi-Finals in 9th.

Meanwhile, Kyra Condie placed 15th, with her most notable performance being on W1 where she secured a flash after nearly slipping on the second to last hold. Cloe Coscoy trailed just behind Condie in 18th, falling off the last hold of W2 but finishing W1 on her fourth attempt after using the edge of a sloped volume as an intermediate.

Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Quinn Mason in 25th and Nekaia Sanders in 29th. Notably, Adriene Akiko Clark and Nekaia Sanders tied for 29th. Meanwhile, Maya Madere and Ella Fisher scored back to back in 39th and 40th, respectively. Finally, Paloma Slowik placed 36th in her first-ever World Cup appearance.

Duffy Astonishes Hometown Crowd in First Finals of the Season

8 men represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2025, with Colin Duffy advancing to Finals and Adam Shahar advancing to Semi-Finals. 

Colin Duffy found himself in his first Finals of the season, with this performance being his third World Cup since his Olympic debut in 2024. Just shy of the podium, Duffy placed 4th after two well-executed tops in the Final. In fact, he was one of only two Finalists (the other being Sohta Amagasa of Korea) to top M1, setting a good tone for the round. The crowd erupted as Duffy Houdini matched, rapidly swapping one hand for another in a coordinated execution, on both M1 and M2. Duffy finished the round with 59.6 points and excitement for future competitions.

“It was incredible to have the home crowd advantage,” said Duffy after competing. “I got to feed off that energy and had a great round.”

Adam Shahar also competed in Semi-Finals finishing in 23rd, with this being his first World Cup of the season. Shahar fought until the buzzer on every climb, giving everything he had on each attempt.

Also representing the USA in the Qualification round was Alexander Waller in 27th, Benjamin Hanna in 39th, Cozmo Rothfork in 45th (his first-ever World Cup appearance), Vail Everett in 49th, and Joshua Gerhardt and Isaac Leff, who both tied for 53rd.

IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 Team Ranking:
Japan (JPN)
France (FRA)
United States (USA)

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This week, 171 athletes representing 24 countries traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah to compete in the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup, hosted at Momentum Indoor Climbing Fort Union. Among those were 68 US athletes, 21 of whom advanced to Finals. Team USA ultimately won 14 medals at the event and secured the overall combined team ranking.

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

Team Ranking:

United States (USA)
Japan (JPN)
Germany (GER)

WRP3: Vorel Becomes 3x Consecutive Gold Medalist 

Nat Vorel took Gold for the third time in a row with 40 points. Having also placed first in the Qualification round, Vorel didn’t shock the audience much when they easily pulled off a campus swing at the crux, before falling at the second to last hold while attempting a bump.

WRP3 Podium:

Nat Vorel (USA)
Momoko Yoshida (JPN)
Marina Dias (BRA)

MRP2: Butler Takes First Gold by One Positive Motion Point

Brayden Butler took his first Gold with a score of 46+. This being his eighth Para World Cup, Butler performed calmly despite tying for third in the Qualification round.

MRP2 Podium:

Brayden Butler (USA)
Manikandan Kumar (IND)
Philipp Hrozek (GER)

MAU2: Zarzuela Becomes 4x World Champion

Brian Zarzuela claimed his fourth career Gold, marking his ninth appearance at a Para World Cup. Also winning first in the Qualification round, Zarzuela switched confidently between both dynamic and technical movement during his Finals climb, boasting a drop-knee at the crux while earning a dramatic positive motion point when he leaped and fell higher up in the route. His final score came out to 48+, with Trevor Smith trailing slightly behind him with a score of 42. Smith earned Silver after he impressively wedged himself between volumes and slopers. Though not nearly as seasoned a competitor as Zarzuela, Smith was right behind him in both the Qualification and Finals round.

MAU2 Podium: 

Brian Zarzuela (USA)
Trevor Smith (USA)
Sebastien Musson (GBR)

WRP1: USA Dominates Podium in WRP1 Category 

All competitors in both the Qualification and Finals round were all US athletes. Taking her first Gold was Hannah Zook, who with a score of 15 points was one hold higher than Melissa Ruiz who had a score of 14 points. Ruiz, who took Silver, has now been to 10 Para World Cups — the exact same amount as Zook. In Bronze was Jackie Stewart with a score of 11+, who podiumed despite this being her first Para World Cup. Notably, Stewart placed second in the Qualification round above Zook, despite their difference in experience level. Both Zook and Ruiz are some of the most experienced athletes in the Para World Cup circuit, which goes to show the difficultly of the WRP1 route considering no athletes made it past the halfway point.

WRP1 Podium: 

Hannah Zook (USA)
Melissa Ruiz (USA)
Jackie Stewart (USA)

WB3: Poston Only Athlete to Top WB3 Route 

Her second time in a row winning Gold at a Para World Cup, Linn Poston earned her medal for being the only WB3 athlete to top the route. Additionally, Salt Lake City is only Poston’s second Para World Cup, meaning she has reigned supreme at every Para World Cup event she has attended for the WB3 category. Although tying with US athlete Phoebe Barkan in the Qualification round, Barkan ended Finals with a score of 32+, winning Bronze. Barkan achieved the same score as the fourth place winner, but was bumped to the podium due to time spent on the wall.

WB3 Podium: 

Linn Poston (USA)
Elsa Boutel Menard (FRA)
Phoebe Barkan (USA)

MB3: Martinez Loses Silver by One Positive Motion Point at 2nd Para World Cup 

Andrew Martinez, with a score of 41, lost his chance at Silver by one positive motion point. Still, Martinez climbs consistently, earning Bronze for the second year in a row at the same competition.

MB3 Podium: 

Cosmin Florin Candoi (ROU)
Daniel-Bebe-Vasilică Andrei (ROU)
Andrew Martinez (USA)

MAL2: Ramos Loses Gold by One Positive Motion Point at First Para World Cup 

At his first Para World Cup, Corey Ramos took Silver with a score of 44, shy of Gold by only one positive motion point.  Right behind Ramos was Ethan Zilz who took Bronze with a score of 38+, and used heel-hooks on almost every move he could find one on. Also in MAL2 was US athlete Kyle Long, who with a score of 43+ wound up in 6th place after attempting a bump to a crimp.

MAL2 Podium: 

Thierry Delarue (FRA)
Corey Ramos (USA)
Ethan Zilz (USA)

MAU3:  Keough Makes Podium at First Para World Cup 

Mason Keough tied for first in the Qualification round with two other athletes before taking his first Bronze at his first Para World Cup. Keough’s final score was 43, with US athlete Benen Parlmer bumped from the podium with a score of 31+. At one point, Keough climbed side by side with Brayden Butler on the MRP2 route. Salt Lake City was also Parlmer’s first Para World Cup, with a missed pocket being the reason for his fall.

MAU3 Podium: 

Mor Michael Sapir (ISR)
Dominic Geisseler (SUI)
Mason Keough (USA)

WAU2: Rubin Wins Bronze After Tie for Silver 

Eleanor Rubin, who has made bronze at three Para World Cups in the past, took Bronze again at her fifth Para World Cup with a score of 34+. Notably, Rubin had the same score as the athlete who took Silver, but was bumped to Bronze due to time spent on the wall.

Rubin was also on the wall at the same time as Corey Ramos and Melissa Ruiz, meaning that for the only time in the entire competition, only US athletes filled the stage.

WAU2 Podium: 

Solenne Piret (FRA)
Lucia Capovilla (ITA)
Eleanor Rubin (USA)

WAL2: Truscott Loses Bronze by Time at First Para World Cup

Kaitlyn Truscott, who tied with US athlete Morgan Loomis and one other athlete for third in the Qualification round, had the same score as the athlete awarded Silver in Finals. With a score of 30, Truscott was bumped off the podium due to time spent on the wall. This being Truscott’s first Para World Cup, she demonstrated impressive long rests along her route. Seemingly in the same range of ability as Truscott, Loomis finished Finals only one point behind with a score of 29.

WB1: Lakrout Just Shy of Podium 

Emeline Lakrout, with six Para World Cups under her belt, ended Finals with a score of 20 behind two athletes who tied, leaving her in fourth place just outside the podium. The last time Lakrout competed in the Salt Lake City World Cup, she came in eighth place, showing her progress since 2023.

MRP1: Martin Just Shy of Podium in Most Populated Category 

Paul Martin, with a score of 15, was just shy of the podium after experiencing a foot slip towards the bottom of the route. Notably, the MRP1 category is large compared to the rest, having 12 athletes competing in the Qualification round. Martin had high hopes in Finals, with his original placement in the Qualification round being 2nd place.

MAL1: Cislaw Misses Podium by One Point 

Tanner Cislaw, with a score of 38+, was only one point away from a Bronze placement. Cislaw is no stranger to Para World Cups, with this being his seventh event.

US athletes who competed in the Qualification round only: 

• Gordon Fralick (MB3),
• Diego Kusnir (MB3)
• Gina Applebee (WB1)
• Leah Grosjean (WB1)
• Ashley Colburn (WB1)
• Jessica Semmel (WB3)
• Amy Mullins (WB3)
• Paige Trotter (WB3)
• Jacob Rosenquist (MAL1)
• Carlos Quiles (MAL1)
• Jake Frank (MAL1)
• Garrison Redd (MAL1)
• Scott McKinney (MAL2)
• Lee Shaffer (MAL2)
• Kara Parker (WAL2)
• Hannah McFadden (WAL2)
• Daliya Hansen (WAL2)
• Dylan Restek (MAU2)
• Matthew Lynch (MAU2)
• Josephine Fouts (WAU2)
• Isabel Benvenuti (WAU2)
• Elise Morley (WAU2)
• Joshua Unterman (MRP1)
• Sunny Yang (MRP1)
• Connor King (MRP1)
• Johnny Quintana (MRP2)
• Dennis Connors (MRP2)
• Benjamin Mayforth (MRP2)
• Daniel Medina (MRP3)
• Deva Ramireddy (MRP3)
• Ian Gleason (MRP3)
• Oliver Carnazzo (MRP3)
• Mark Jourdian (MRP3)
• Ryan Juguan (MRP3)
• Karalyn Spurr (MRP3)
• Natalie Sullivan (MRP3)
• Caroline Winstel (WRP2)
• Megan Gleason (WRP2)
• Brenda Findley (WRP2)
• Crystal Martin (WRP3)
• Lindsay Purcell (WRP3)
• Laura Heaton (WRP3)
• Braden Shoop (MAU3)

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

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This weekend, 10 athletes represented Team USA in Curitiba, Brazil for South America’s first-ever IFSC Climbing World Cup. Podiums were awarded for the second Boulder World Cup of the year at the Parque Olímpico do Cajuru (Brazilian National Climbing Training Center).

Sanders Makes First-Ever World Cup Semi-Finals and Finals 

Five women represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Curitiba 2025, with Cloe Coscoy, Kyra Condie and Helen Gillett all advancing to Semi-Finals. Meanwhile, Nekaia Sanders had a breakthrough performance in her first Semi-Finals and Finals rounds at her fourth World Cup. 

Sanders was the one Team USA athlete who advanced to Finals over the weekend. This fact, coupled with the realization that this was her first time advancing to either Semi-Finals or Finals at a World Cup, gave Sanders an emotional start the round.

“Honestly, this is only the second time I’ve ever cried in isolation. It was such a hard round and I had so much fun on the boulders and I’m clearly very excited,” said Sanders in anticipation for Finals.

In Semi-Finals, Sanders was notably the only climber to top W1, which featured her well-known strength of calculated slab movement. In Finals, W2 posed a challenge to every athlete due to its two large coordination dynos. Sanders swiftly got through the first hand-foot-match move, but fell three times going for the side-step dyno. Still, Sanders managed to hold onto the catch hold for an impressive amount of time. Despite her difficulties, Sanders left every climb with a contagious smile, stunning the crowd when she topped W3 with extreme precision on her second attempt. As the crowd cheered, Sanders couldn’t help but express her happiness by pumping the air and slapping the wall. Sanders finished 8th overall.

Representing Team USA in Semi-Finals, Cloe Coscoy placed 9th just after Sanders, which narrowly pushed her out of Finals. Kyra Condie came in 13th place after falling on the last move of W2, which cemented her placement. Finally, Helen Gillett earned 21st at her first-ever World Cup Semi-Finals.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round was Ella Fisher, who finished in 37th place. This is Fisher’s first season competing in the adult World Cup circuit.

Four men represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Curitiba 2025. Although none progressed to Semi-Finals, all closely followed each other in the Qualification round. 

After a high number of ties, Colin Duffy was bumped to 32nd place with two tops and one flash, which tied him with two other athletes. Vail Everett, competing in his first World Cup, flashed two climbs which landed him close behind Duffy in 36th place. In his second World Cup appearance, Joshua Gerhardt earned 43rd place with one top. Finally, Benjamin Hanna followed in 45th place after zoning in all but one climb.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Curitiba 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

USA Climbing is proud to announce the recipients of its 2025 Collegiate Scholarships, recognizing outstanding student climbers who are helping to shape the future of the sport. The scholarships, which include the Climbing Ambassador Scholarship and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Scholarship, celebrate athletes who not only excel in competition but also lead in fostering community and inclusivity within climbing.

Climbing Ambassador Scholarship Winners

1st Place ($1,000): Lleyton Gunter

“Thank you to everyone who supported me in achieving this incredible honor,” said Gunter. “Without the dedication of the Northwestern Rock Climbing Club Executive Board and our amazing collegiate climbing community, I would never have been able to contribute so meaningfully to day-to-day operations and pursue the opportunities that make our club thrive. Leading this emerging club has been an incredibly rewarding experience, pushing me to step up as a leader and teaching me the value of collaboration and support. Through climbing, I’ve discovered a passion for fostering spaces where people can embrace freedom, find joy, and build friendships. In the future, I’m committed to expanding access to climbing and ensuring it becomes a more inclusive, supportive environment for all students at Northwestern and beyond. Thank you for believing in me and our shared mission to strengthen the climbing community.”

2nd Place ($500): Zoe Simard

“Climbing has been a huge part of my college journey,” said Simard. “I officially started my climbing journey freshman year, and the very first time I walked into the gym and met the USC climbing team, I knew I had found something special. Through now being one of the captains of the team, I have also loved to introduce this sport to people and see them find their own place within it. Over the past three years, my community has grown beyond USC through the collegiate competition circuit. Winning the Climbing Ambassador Scholarship means the world to me, when I got the news, I was literally jumping up and down in my room!”

These athletes were recognized for their exceptional leadership, advocacy, and dedication to promoting climbing within their collegiate and local communities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship Winners

1st Place ($1,000): Angilee Cheah

“I am so excited to be receiving this award,” said Cheah. “The collegiate circuit has allowed me to continue my love for competing and I look forward to the upcoming years. Thank you to all the friends and family who have helped in the past year.”

2nd Place ($500): Van Malkie

“I’m truly honored to receive this DEI scholarship,” said Malkie. “Climbing has brought me lifelong friends, strength, and a sense of belonging. I believe everyone deserves access to that same experience. As a minority student-athlete, I’m committed to making climbing more inclusive—especially for underrepresented groups in terms of race, gender, and disability. I look forward to continuing this work at the University of Utah and helping build a climbing community where all students feel welcome and supported.”

Applications for the scholarships opened on October 12, 2024, and closed on February 2, 2025. USA Climbing extends congratulations to this year’s winners and gratitude to all who applied.

Learn more about the USA Climbing Collegiate Series here.

USA Climbing, the National Governing Body for the sport of climbing, is thrilled to announce the addition of David Landman to its Board of Directors.

Landman is a seasoned corporate executive and investment banker with over 35 years of experience in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, financial services and operations. He currently serves as a Board Director and Chairman of the Compensation Committee at Inotiv, a NASDAQ-listed life sciences company based in Lafayette, Indiana. He is also a former Partner and current Senior Adviser at Perella Weinberg Partners, a global independent investment bank with head offices in New York.

In connection to USA Climbing, Landman currently serves on the Audit & Compensation Committee and previously served on the Judicial Committee. He also served as a Board Director at the American Alpine Club for six years and as Vice Chair for two years. An active sport and trad climber since 1993, his climbing accomplishments include climbing the Seven Summits (the highest mountain on each of the Seven continents, including Mount Everest and Denali), climbing El Capitan three times, and completing the Grand Traverse (the entire skyline of Jackson Hole, WY in a three-day push). Landman’s love for climbing is shared by his two sons, who competed in the UK and internationally from 1999-2018.

“As a passionate climber and alpinist, I am thrilled to join the USA Climbing Board of Directors,” said Landman. “My two sons progressed steadily from the most junior competitive ranks to the elite World Cup level. I have seen competition climbing soar over the past 25 years. USA Climbing is in a pivotal period, and I am honored to contribute to the fantastic foundation the entire USA Climbing team has built.”

“I am excited to welcome David Landman to the Board,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “David’s deep experience and dynamic leadership, on top of his passion for climbing, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to advance the sport.”

Landman recently earned an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard Business School in Preparing to be a Corporate Director and is continuing advanced work in Board Effectiveness, as well as Audit and Compensation Committee governance. He earned a four-year J.D./M.B.A. from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Law and Booth School of Business (1982) and a B.A. in Economics from Wesleyan University (High Honors, 1978). He has FINRA licenses Series 7 and 24 and is an SEC-qualified financial expert with compensation committee expertise. He is also admitted to the Bar in both New York and Connecticut.

Click here to learn more about the USA Climbing Board of Directors.

Over 300 competitors from 101 colleges across the country travelled to Utah this past weekend for the 2025 Collegiate National Championships. The Boulder discipline was hosted at USA Climbing’s current Training Center in the Granary District of Salt Lake City, while the Lead discipline was hosted at the new site of the Training Center in the Rio Grande District (this summer, USA Climbing was moving its Training Center closer to the site of its eventual National Training Center project). The Speed discipline was hosted at Momentum Fort Union, Momentum’s newest location in Salt Lake City.

Three-Way Tie for First During Women’s Lead (Advanced) Final Broken By Time 

Helen Stephens from the Georgia Institute of Technology, Marielle Horstmann from the University of Vermont, and Julia Duffy from the University of Utah all topped their Qualification route. During Finals, all three athletes fell at the exact same move. To avoid a three-way tie, first place was given to the athlete who took the least amount of time to reach the finish. Horstmann prevailed with a time of 2 minutes and 52 seconds. Stephens followed closely behind in second with 3 minutes and 14 seconds, and Duffy finishing in third with 3 minutes and 51 seconds.

Women’s Lead (Advanced) Podium:
Marielle Horstmann | University of Vermont
Helen Stephens | Georgia Institute of Technology
Julia Duffy | University of Utah

“I’ve never competed on a wall like that outside so it felt pretty surreal! I was just happy to be there and glad it wasn’t pouring rain,” Horstmann said when asked about her experience.

Men’s Lead (Advanced) Podium:
Nathan Monte | University of Utah
Austin Reitz | University of Colorado Boulder
Jake Plasco | University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Men’s Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: 
Marcus Yoo | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Mateo Fernandez-Tyson | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Y-Minh Truong | Northern Arizona University

Women’s Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: 
Lillyan Higgs | University of Utah
Laura Chen | University of California San Francisco
Jaime Santoro | Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Smolyanyy Wins First Collegiate National Championship 

Anton Smolyanyy from the University of Utah not only achieved a competition personal record time of 5.82 seconds, but also earned his first podium finish, making him the 2025 Men’s Speed Collegiate National Champion.

With his sights set on team trials, Smolyanyy said, “I really wanted this moment to happen, but actually executing it and making it real feels amazing.”

Men’s Speed Podium: 
Anton Smolyanyy | University of Utah
Micah Feller | University of California Los Angeles
Matthew Baker | Community College of Baltimore County

Guay Wins First Collegiate National Championship 

Kaitlyn Guay from Northeastern University achieved a competition personal record time of  8.67 seconds, but also earned her first time becoming the 2025 Female Speed Collegiate National Champion.

“I’m just really happy,” Guay said when asked where she’ll go from here. “I’ve been training for the open circuit so just the same as always– just training.”

Women’s Speed Podium: 
Kaitlyn Guay | Northeastern University
Angilee Cheah | University of Utah
Julia de la Paz | University of Utah

Flynn and Sarinopoulos Secure Gold for University of Utah 

AJ Flynn (MADV) and Campbell Sarinopoulos (WADV) of University of Utah both championed in their categories for the first time. Sarinopoulos, having also competed in the 2023 Collegiate Nationals Boulder Finals, flashed all 4 routes. Flynn flashed all but 1 of his routes despite this being his first time competing in the Collegiate Nationals circuit.

Men’s Boulder (Advanced) Podium: 
AJ Flynn | University of Utah
Nathan Monte | University of Utah
Austin Reitz | University of Colorado Boulder

Women’s Boulder (Advanced) Podium: 
Campbell Sarinopoulos | University of Utah
Sonia Gutierrez | Colorado College
Claire Lin | University of California Berkeley

Men’s Boulder (Intermediate) Podium:
Mateo Fernandez-Tyson | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Marcus Yoo | Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Bruno Garcia | University of Michigan

Women’s Boulder (Intermediate) Podium: 
Ellis Stevens | Bryn Mawr College
Laura Chen | University of California San Francisco
Paloma Laumann | Liberty University

How To Watch

You can rewatch the final rounds of the 2025 Collegiate National Championships at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. Full results are also available on the Collegiate Nationals event page.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This weekend, 15 athletes represented Team USA in Bali, Indonesia for the third IFSC Climbing World Cup of the season! World records fell and medals were won at Peninsula Island, where coral cliffs and ocean waves were the backdrop.

Sam Watson Sets World Record (Twice), Wins Gold Medal

6 men represented Team USA in Speed at the IFSC World Cup Bali 2025. 

Watson, who set the previous world record (4.74 seconds) and won a bronze medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, has been promising a new world record this season. He has consistently run faster than his world record in practice, but it was Bali where he finally lowered that record in competition for an energetic crowd.

Coming through a semi-final against Indonesia’s Raharjati Nursamsa, Watson lowered his world record to an astonishing 4.67 seconds – but he wasn’t done there.

In the final he came up against Japan’s Omasa Ryo, who made an unfortunate false start. At that point, Watson had won gold and set one world record.

“NFL players do the two-minute drill where they do a simulation of going through processes,” explained Watson, “and if I want to break a PB in practice I will do the same. I pretend I win gold, my opponent false started, and I just want to give the crowd one more run, especially this crowd in here in Bali. Everything just went right.”

Climbing on his own, he hit the buzzer at just 4.64 seconds, another world record, and an unexpected one at that.

“The qualifiers and practice were boiling. I came back and put an ice pack on my head. But I am a competitor and the conditions affect everybody. I was lucky we got a bit of overcast so there was a little bit of shade, and I am really happy now. I wasn’t expecting it at all.”

After his gold there is a little down time to digest what he has just done in Bali, but then it’s back to business for Watson.

“I will be going down to the beach and hanging out for about a day and enjoying this backdrop. I’ll relax for a bit and enjoy this beautiful city, country, island. Then I’ve got Denver. The World Cup Series overall is one of my goals and I am not going to let it go. I will keep pushing and not let it go to my head.”

Also representing Team USA in the Speed Qualification round were Merritt Ernsberger (placed 32nd), Noah Bratschi (placed 33rd), Ben Jennings (placed 35th), Aidan Goddard (placed 52nd), and Zach Hammer (placed 55th).

4 women represented Team USA in Speed, with Sophia Curcio and Isis Rothfork advancing to Finals. 

Also representing Team USA in the Speed Qualification round were Piper Kelly (placed 21st) and Liberty Runnels (placed 32nd).

3 men represented Team USA in Lead, with Jesse Grupper advancing to Semi-Finals. 

Also representing Team USA in the Lead Qualification round were Sergey Lakhno and Declan Osgood, who joined Thailand’s Auswin Aueareechit in a three-way tie for 38th place.

2 women represented Team USA in Lead, with Adriene Akiko Clark advancing to Semi-Finals. 

Bali was also Zoe Yi’s first-ever IFSC World Cup appearance–she placed 38th in the Qualification round.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This past weekend, 16 athletes represented Team USA in Wujiang, China for the second IFSC Climbing World Cup of the season! Team USA received a Bronze medal for Lead, which was awarded at the Fenhu Culture and Sports Center along the Yangtze River Delta.

Sanders Secures Bronze Medal in Women’s Lead Final

4 women represented Team USA in Lead at the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2025, with Maya Madere advancing to Lead Semi-Finals and Annie Sanders securing Bronze after an extremely close Lead Finals round that resulted in a rare tie for Gold. 

Annie Sanders, who just won Gold at last weekend’s Keqiao World Cup, was confident in every move she made on her Finals route. Sanders breezed through both the two-handed campus jump in the middle of the route, as well as the draining drop-down move, before falling at hold 39+. The only two competitors to score higher than Sanders were Great Britain’s Erin McNeice and South Korea’s Seo Chaehyun, who, in a rare turn of events, shared a Gold medal.

McNeice and Seo both reached hold 41 in Finals, but couldn’t be separated through Qualification and Semi-Finals performances as they both topped those routes. Instead, the tie-breaker would come down to climbing time on the Final route, however both competitors timed at 4:26 meaning they could not be separated and therefore both took a joint Gold medal.

In Lead Semi-Finals, Maya Madere climbed powerfully, eventually landing in 21st place. Also representing Team USA in the Lead Qualification round were Adriene Akiko Clark (placed 29th), and Ella Fisher (placed 32nd).

3 men represented Team USA in Lead, with Jesse Grupper advancing to Lead Semi-Finals. 

In Lead Semi-Finals, Jesse Grupper found impressive heel-hooks throughout the men’s route, taking the opportunity to rest whenever possible. With nearly 1 minute left on the clock, Grupper carefully used almost his entire 6 minutes before landing in 13th place.

Also representing Team USA in the Lead Qualification round were Declan Osgood (placed 37th) and Sergey Lakhno (placed 40th).

Watson Narrowly Misses Podium, Places 4th in Finals 

5 men represented Team USA in Speed at the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2025, with 2 advancing to Finals in the first Speed World Cup of the year.

Sam Watson danced around his own world record (4.74 seconds) this weekend, earning a time of 4.76 seconds during Qualification. Then, during the first round of Speed Finals, he earned a time of 4.78 seconds–again just shy of the world record. In the small final, pressure from the audience mounted as he approached the wall, but by the smallest of margins he was beaten by Indonesia’s Kiromal Katiban by only 0.287 seconds. Wujiang is familiar with Watson, as it’s the same venue where he set two men’s Speed world records in 2024.

“I know the world record will continue to be broken from my perspective, I don’t control what the other athletes do, but I’ve put a lot of work in through the off-season and I’m ready to push the times down,” Watson said before the event, hopeful that he would continue his streak.

Zach Hammer made it to Speed Finals as well, but after an unexpected slip, lost to Ukraine’s Hryhorii Ilchyshyn. Hammer’s fastest time throughout the competition was his first Qualification run, stopping the clock at 4.96 seconds, which was his first-ever sub-5 run in competition. Also representing Team USA for speed were Ben Jennings and Noah Bratschi who placed back to back during the Qualification round in 34th and 35th place, respectively. Finally, Aidan Goddard placed 45th.

Hunt Misses Podium by Fraction of a Second, Also Places 4th

4 women represented Team USA in Speed, with Emma Hunt advancing to Finals in the first Speed World Cup of the year.

Emma Hunt climbed at a consistent pace throughout Finals, with her closest call occurring as she raced Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw. During the second round, Hunt beat Miroslaw by 0.01 second after they both suffered similar missteps. Still, this close victory sent her to the small final, where she eventually lost to China’s Lijuan Deng by 0.042 seconds. Hunt’s fastest time during the competition was 6.39 seconds, just shy of her Pan-American record of 6.36 seconds.

Also representing Team USA for Speed in the Qualification round were Sophia Curcio in 23rd place, Isis Rothfork in 26th, and Piper Kelly in 35th.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This past weekend, 10 athletes represented Team USA in Keqiao, China for the IFSC Climbing World Cup. The world watched as athletes fought for zones and tops, and the very first podiums of the season were awarded at the Shaoxing Keqiao Yangshan Climbing Center.

Sanders Wins Her Second Boulder World Cup 

6 women represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Keqiao 2025, with 4 progressing to Semi-Finals and Annie Sanders placing 1st overall.

Annie Sanders won her second Boulder World Cup Gold medal this weekend, making her the 5th US woman to win two or more Boulder World Cup gold medals. Her first win was just last season at the IFSC World Cup Seoul 2024.

“I’m pretty excited honestly. I definitely wasn’t expecting it, especially after the first boulder where I was frustrated and pretty much not getting anywhere on the second boulder,” said Sanders after her win. “I was in a bit of a bad headspace, but the third boulder lightened my mood and the fourth I just gave it everything to get to the zone.”

In Semi-Finals, Kyra Condie and Cloe Coscoy were among six athletes tied for 11th place. Although they each zoned on different climbs, their scores evened out in the end. Adriene Akiko Clark placed 24th place during Semi-Finals, while Nekaia Sanders and Ella Fisher represented Team USA in the Qualification round, placing 26th and 43rd place respectively.

4 men represented Team USA at the IFSC World Cup Keqiao 2025, with 3 progressing to Semi-Finals.

In the Men’s Boulder Semi-Final, Colin Duffy earned a Top on M1 during his 7th attempt after purposefully dropping his chalk bag off the wall before the coordination dyno. Zander Waller, with similar timing as Duffy, topped W1 on his 6th attempt. Ben Hanna, who returns to the World Cup circuit with 15 years of competition experience, found an unintended knee bar while going to the zone of M2, eventually earning a top.

In the end, Duffy placed 18th during Semi-Finals, while Hanna and Waller neighbored each other in 21st and 22nd place, respectively. Joshua Gerhardt represented the USA in the Qualification round, placing 57th at his first World Cup.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Keqiao 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Sport Climbing’s three disciplines – Boulder, Lead, and Speed – will each get standalone medals for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. Earlier today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced an increase in both medals and athlete quota for Sport Climbing, alongside the full event program for the Games.

“The IOC Executive Board has approved six events for men’s and women’s Lead, Speed, and Boulder climbing, with a total quota of 76 athletes (38 women and 38 men),” said a communication from the IOC. “The specific allocation of these quota places across the events will be finalized in the Olympic Qualification System, including the potential for athletes to compete in multiple events.”

At Tokyo 2020, Sport Climbing’s Olympic debut, athletes competed in one combined format offering one set of medals per gender. At Paris 2024, athletes competed in a Speed event and a combined Boulder & Lead event, doubling the number of medals from Tokyo. The Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 will be the first to offer three sets of medals per gender, allowing athletes to specialize in each of the three disciplines.

“We are thrilled to see Boulder, Lead, and Speed all as medal events on the biggest stage in sport,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “more medals means specialists will have an opportunity to compete in their preferred discipline, which continues to raise the level of performance that fans see at the Olympic Games. We can’t wait to see the continued growth of the sport beyond LA28!”

In an update from the International Federation of Sport Climbing, President Marco Scolaris said, “From the very beginning of our Olympic journey we have always had the target of three sets of medals for our athletes. Each of our disciplines has its own unique strengths, and now everyone will see these at LA28.”

The Olympic Games LA28 will take place July 14-30, 2028. The news follows the addition of Para Climbing to the Paralympic Games, August 15-27, 2028. USA Climbing looks forward to the announcement of the full event program for the Paralympic Games soon.

The latest information and updates about the Games can be found at LA28.org.

On May 31 and June 1, the Downtown Denver Partnership, in collaboration with USA Climbing and supported by Denver Arts & Venues and Visit Denver, will host the IFSC World Cup Denver 2025. The event – which will take place in Downtown Denver (official location to be announced) – marks the first time Denver will host an IFSC World Cup competition.

The IFSC Speed Climbing World Cup will take place as part of the 16th Street Summer Kickoff (Kickoff), a weekend-long celebration of the revitalized public space that is nearing completion. This free, two-day event will span across Downtown Denver’s iconic mile-long main street, showcasing 16th Street as a hub for live music, art, food, shopping, and more, with a jam-packed line-up of performances, experiences and activations that will be announced soon at SummerInDenver.com.

 “As climbing continues to gain momentum in the United States, we could not be more thrilled to partner with the IFSC and USA Climbing to host a Speed Climbing World Cup right here in the heart of Downtown Denver,” said Kourtny Garrett, President & CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “As an epicenter for outdoor recreation and the economic hub for the Rocky Mountain West, the opportunity to host a competition like this is synonymous with our ethos. All of us in Denver are incredibly proud to welcome the IFSC, its athletes and a global audience to our city this summer.”

The competition will follow the Para Climbing and Boulder World Cups hosted in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 20-25.

“In Denver we have an urban event with the mountains in the distance, so we combine the present IFSC with our history and roots. The world’s best Speed climbers, including USA’s very own world record holder Sam Watson, will compete in the heart of a city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains,” said IFSC President Marco Scolaris, “Denver also completes the trio of disciplines for the USA as we move from Salt Lake City with Lead Para Climbing and Boulder to showcase the full range of our sport with an exciting, action-packed Speed competition in a new venue. I’m very excited to see the competition, but I’m even more excited to see a new crowd of people enjoying Climbing up close.”

“We can’t wait to bring speed climbing to Denver,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “For years, Colorado has hosted some of the world’s best climbers and we know that the international climbing community will feel right at home for this World Cup.”

Denver’s event is going to be the third of five Speed competitions of the IFSC World Cup Series 2025, joining stops in Wujiang, China; Bali, Indonesia; Krakow, Poland; and Chamonix, France.

Event information and a free RSVP can be found on the USA Climbing Eventbrite. The IFSC Climbing World Cup Denver 2025 will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

About Downtown Denver Partnership 

The Downtown Denver Partnership implements a place-based economic development strategy to support its vision for an economically healthy, vibrant and growing downtown. Through creative public realm activation with a focus on iconic, inclusive public art, the Partnership is building a thriving center city – a place for the community to come together for meaningful interactions and memorable experiences. The Partnership convenes the public, private and philanthropic sectors to drive progress forward in Downtown Denver to the benefit of all. Visit downtowndenver.com for more.

About USA Climbing 

USA Climbing is the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, supporting athletes, coaches, and events across the country. As a nonprofit organization, USA Climbing’s mission is to promote the growth and development of climbing while advocating for the sport’s values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and environmental responsibility.

The 2025 North American Cup Series (NACS) kicked off this past weekend in Greenville, South Carolina. NACS allows for athletes from the Americas to compete at an elite level outside of the World Cup circuit. Nearly 150 athletes traveled to BlocHaven for the series opener, which featured the Boulder discipline.

It was also the first time that athletes under 17 were able to compete in their own U17 category at a North American Cup.

Costanza Finishes 1st in Every Round

Melina Costanza had an impressive Gold performance with three tops during the Qualification round, four during Semi-Finals, and two more during her Finals round. From one dynamic coordination move to a paddle dyno, Costanza was the first and only athlete to stick the zone move of W4 as well as being the only athlete to top it.

When interviewed, Costanza said the next generation of climbing is already here, giving some encouraging words to the athletes in the U17 category, “The opportunities are endless, the sport is growing, and the community is really cool,” Costanza said.

Taking Silver, Jojo Chi topped W3 with 40 seconds left, almost parallel to Waller’s performance in the Men’s category. Overall, Chi had one top, with Costanza being the only athlete to top more than one climb. Finally, Evangelina Briggs had no tops, but still took Bronze with two zones.

Women’s Boulder Podium (Adult):
Melina Costanza (USA)
Jojo Chi (USA)
Evangelina Briggs (CAN)

Countryman Finishes 1st in Every Round

Dillon Countryman also had an impressive Gold performance with four tops during the Qualification round, three during Semi-Finals, and three more during Finals.

To encourage young climbers stepping onto the competition scene, Countryman said, “Have fun, stay psyched, and never stop climbing!”

In Silver, Matthew Rodriguez had the quickest ascent of M3 in only 40 seconds, and was also the only athlete to top M1. In Bronze, Zander Waller finished with two close calls, including a top on M3 with 40 seconds left and a top on M4 with 4 seconds left. On M1, Waller fell on the last hold after attempting to finish with an inverted toe hook.

Men’s Boulder Podium (Adult):
Dillon Countryman (USA)
Matthew Rodriguez (CAN)
Zander Waller (USA)

Haddad Takes Gold at first U17 North American Cup Finals

Maika Ruiz Haddad, Kailyn Leong, Lauren Williams and Abigail Schlotterback all flashed W1 in Finals. However, Haddad secured Gold, pushing Charley Planegger into Silver by one attempt. Notably, Haddad topped W3 with 3 seconds left on the clock. Other than W1, Planegger had the exact same score as Haddad.

Another comeback from the Qualification round, Planegger originally barely made Finals in 8th place, proving herself in Finals. In Bronze, Kailyn Leong was the only athlete to top W2.

Women’s Boulder Podium (U17):
Maika Ruiz Haddad (USA)
Charley Planegger (USA)
Kailyn Leong (USA)

Cobbs Takes Gold as the Only Men’s U17 Athlete to Top

Kai Cobbs was the only male athlete to both flash and top any of the U17 Finals climbs. Cobbs also made a surprising comeback from the Qualification round after originally placing fifth.

The Men’s U17 Finals climbs were particularly difficult for every athlete to make progress on, especially climbs M1 and M3, which no athletes were able to zone or top. Impressively, Owen Pham won Silver with a zone on M2. Finally, Vincent Schmidt won Bronze with his zone on M4, which no other athlete was able to accomplish.

Men’s Boulder Podium (U17):
Kai Cobbs (USA)
Owen Pham (USA)
Vincent Schmidt (USA)

You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds of the 2025 NACS Greenville at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. The next NACS competition will be hosted by Climb-Murfreesboro from April 12-13 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Salt Lake City is hosting two IFSC World Cups in May, the Para Climbing World Cup from May 20-21 and the Boulder World Cup from May 23-25! The events will welcome the world’s best competition climbers, including current and hopeful Olympians. Tickets are now on sale for the two World Cups, which have sold out in years past.

IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025

The Para Climbing World Cup will be hosted at Momentum Indoor Climbing Fort Union from May 20-21. It will be the first competition of the IFSC Para Climbing season 2025, which also kicks off the four-year cycle leading up to the Paralympic Games LA28. Salt Lake City has hosted the last three US stops of the IFSC Para Climbing World Cups and, during that time, the number of registered athletes has grown by 157%.

“The Salt Lake City World Cup is an opportunity for athletes to redefine their style and set a good pace for how they will perform the rest of the season,” said Ben Mayforth, a Salt Lake City local who took home a silver medal in the Men’s RP2 category at last year’s World Cup. “For spectators, it’s an opportunity to see how huge of a lifestyle sport climbing is and how both para climbers and able-bodied climbers are pushing themselves!”

Tickets can be found on the USA Climbing Eventbrite. The IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025

The Boulder World Cup will return to USA Climbing’s own National Training Center in downtown Salt Lake City. The Boulder discipline is notorious for showcasing some of the most creative, dynamic, and challenging movements in the sport and this year’s event is sure to deliver. In 2024, 191 athletes from around the world competed in Salt Lake City, where Salt Lake City local Natalia Grossman won gold in the Women’s Boulder Final, backed by the cheers of a sold out venue.

“I always love the World Cup in Salt Lake City,” said Grossman following that win. “The crowd hypes us up!”

Tickets can be found on the USA Climbing Eventbrite. The IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2025 will also stream live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

The 2025 National Team Trials concluded last night at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX. Of the more than 60 Boulder athletes registered at the start of the week, only 16 joined Finals last night to fight for the podium and accrue points towards National Team selection. Of course, the 2025 National Team will go on to represent the USA at International World Cups and World Championships.

Costanza Dominates in Semi-Finals and Finals with 12 Tops

Renewing her spot on the 2025 Boulder National Team, Melina Costanza stayed in the lead during the Qualification, Semi-Final and Final rounds. With a score of 99.8, including four tops in the Semi-Final and three flashes in the Finals, Costanza undoubtedly took Gold as the only Boulder athlete to top every climb in both Final rounds. Already qualified for the 2025 Lead National Team, her Boulder performance showcased how versatile she is.

When asked what her favorite Finals climb was, Costanza replied with the slab, which she topped. “I’ve been working really hard on slab. I love working on my weaknesses, I’m proud of the growth I’ve had in that area,” Costanza said.

Adriene Akiko Clark kept the crowd’s attention whenever she finished a climb. In the Semi-Finals, Clark topped her last climb with only two seconds remaining. In the Finals, she executed a high hand-foot match on a sloper, followed by a side lunge to a small finishing crimp on her next climb. Among many others, these split-second decisions earned her Silver with a score of 84.8

Finally, Nekaia Sanders took Bronze with a score of 84.6, bumping out Helen Gillett, who scored 84.4, by attempts. Sanders had repeated falls close to or on the finishing holds in the Semi-Finals, before making a comeback with three tops in finals.

Melina Costanza and Adriene Akiko Clark earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Boulder National Team.

Hanna Wins First Team Trials

Benjamin Hanna’s stunning 360 campus spin from a two-finger pocket to the zone on his final climb earned him his first National Team Trials Gold. In an interview, Hanna revealed that he had no idea all he needed was the zone to win. Hanna is no stranger to the National Team Trials podium, having earned Bronze in both Lead and Boulder at the 2024 National Team Trials. However, this is Hanna’s first Gold performance, which was also his ticket onto the 2025 Boulder National Team.

When asked about his future plans, Hanna replied, “A few outside projects and then lots of World Cups.”

Notably, Hanna and Hugo Hoyer were the only athletes to make any zones on their third Finals climb.

With just as many surprising moves during Finals was Joshua Gerhardt, who took Silver. Gerhardt flashed his first two Finals climbs with a score of 59.9, ahead of Vail Everett by attempts with a score of 59.8.

In Bronze, Vail Everett, with his score of 59.8, held the crowd’s breath as he struggled to find a steady finishing position on his first climb. After flashing the first climb, Everett successfully pulled back into the finish of his second climb after a huge dyno.

Vail Everett, Zander Waller, and Benjamin Hanna all earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Boulder National Team.

2025 Boulder National Team: 

Adriene Akiko Clark
Melina Costanza
Colin Duffy
Vail Everett
Natalia Grossman
Jesse Grupper
Benjamin Hanna
Brooke Raboutou
Annie Sanders
Zander Waller

Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

USA Climbing’s 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI continued in Austin, TX yesterday with the Speed discipline, which welcomed 37 athletes. Athletes competed for both a spot on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2025 Speed National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC).

In Finals, lane A always features the fastest climber from the previous Qualification round, while lane B features the slowest. Having only to beat the competitor next to them, athletes prioritize head-to-head performance over their time.

Hom Wins Every Race, Takes Gold

Michael Hom reigned supreme from the Qualification to the Finals round, ultimately racing against Logan Schlecht. With a flawless run, Hom won Gold with a time of 5.11 seconds, against Schlecht, who had a crucial slipped at the bottom. This performance also earned Hom his spot on the 2025 Speed National Team.

Commenting that he finally achieved a “sub-five-second” run during practice, Hom has high hopes for continued success on the IFSC World Cup circuit.

When asked if competing is stressful for him, Hom replied, “I like to take it as just a really fun event, cause all of my friends are here and I just get to yell and scream and try my hardest,” Hom said.

Schlecht still earned Silver and a spot on the 2025 Speed National Team after having explosive times up until his run against Hom.

In the 1/2 Final, Merritt Ernsberger had two unexpected slip-ups while racing Hom before choosing to fall in order to save energy for the next round. This decision still allowed him to take Bronze with a time of 5.24 seconds against Thomas Lin, who finished with a time of 6.05 seconds. This won Ernsberger his spot on the 2025 Speed National Team alongside Zach Hammer, Michael Hom, Logan Schlecht, and Sam Watson.

Patajo Wins Gold, Sets New Personal Record

After placing fourth at the 2024 National Team Trials, Micaela Patajo was ready for a podium. Following a very successful Qualification round, Patajo achieved not only Gold, but a new personal competition record of 8.03 seconds. Patajo consistently bordered “sub-seven” territory with a finishing time of 8.07 seconds in Finals against Kayleigh Borek.

With goals to continue climbing through college, Patajo also has Olympic dreams. “My sights are set for LA28, so I’m just gonna train for that and keep working hard,” Patajo said.

Taking Silver was the young and excited Kayleigh Borek who had an especially impressive performance considering her experience. This was her first time at a Semi-Final and Final, having competed in her first National Championships in 2024. For both Patajo and Borek, this was their first time in the Big Final racing for Gold and Silver.

Finally in Bronze was Isis Rothfork, who was the only podium athlete to join the 2025 Speed National Team alongside Sophia Curcio, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly and Madi Walsh. Rothfork was the 2023 National Champion, making her podium finish unsurprising.

2025 Speed National Team: 

Sophia Curcio
Merritt Ernsberger
Zach Hammer
Michael Hom
Emma Hunt
Piper Kelly
Isis Rothfork
Logan Schlecht
Madi Walsh
Sam Watson

Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

USA Climbing’s 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI kicked off in Austin, TX this week. Up first at Mesa Rim Climbing Center was the Lead discipline, which welcomed 51 athletes. The stakes were twofold: spots on the National Team Trials podium and on the 2025 Lead National Team, which designates athletes to represent the U.S. at international World Cup events sanctioned by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC).

Adriene Akiko Clark Wins Women’s Lead

Adriene Akiko Clark is no stranger to Team Trials, winning bronze in Lead just one year ago. After nearly missing her last clip, Clark powered to the top of the Finals route. That was following a top in Semi-Finals and earned her a well-deserved spot on the podium, taking Gold in Women’s Lead. Her impressive combined performance also secured her spot on the 2025 Lead National Team.

Clark reflected on her mindset during Finals, “I felt that if I was my happiest I would be my best.”

Behind Clark in a close second for Silver was Ella Fisher. Reaching the finishing clip off a crimp, Fisher also topped the Finals route. Although Fisher is a repeating competitor, this was her first time on the podium at Team Trials.

Finally, winning Bronze was Melina Costanza. Costanza is another seasoned competitor and was the 2024 national champion in both Boulder and Lead. In an impressive turn of events, Costanza also topped the Finals route. Those combined performances earned her a spot on the 2025 Lead National Team.

Adriene Akiko Clark and Melina Costanza both earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Lead National Team, alongside Natalia Grossman, Brooke Raboutou, and Annie Sanders.

Sergey Lakhno Wins Men’s Lead

Sergey Lakhno went from 3rd in Semi-Finals to Gold in Finals after climbing with his usual methodical style and positive attitude. Lakhno’s comeback is even more impressive taking into account that he placed 22nd at his last Team Trials. Now, following his Bronze placement in Lead at the 2024 YETI National Championships, Lakhno finds himself on the 2025 Lead National Team.

Even though Lakhno abided by the routesetters run-and-jump on the Finals route and successfully started the first move, he commented that this was the hardest part of the whole route for him. “It felt pretty low-percentage, but I got it right,” Lakhno said.

Behind him in Silver was Declan Osgood. Osgood chose the run-and-jump option on the Finals route before falling with a positive motion point at almost the same move as Ross Fulkerson. With a final score of 34+, Osgood bumped Fulkerson off the podium by only 1.5 points. This split second decision earned him his spot on the 2025 Lead National Team.

Also climbing to the podium for the first time during the competition was Dillon Countryman, who ended with a Bronze medal. Although he fell earlier than expected during Semi-Finals, Countryman, nicknamed “Bob”, was the first to try the intended run-and-jump beta on the Finals route. Although not unusual, nobody in the Men’s category topped any routes on either day. Interestingly, all three athletes on the podium began the Finals route with the intended run-and-jump beta, rather than the popular yet risky alternative of jumping from the mat to the start hold.

In the end, Lakhno, Osgood, and Cruz Padilla all earned enough National Team Ranking points to join the 2025 Lead National Team, alongside Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper.

2025 Lead National Team: 

Adriene Akiko Clark
Melina Costanza
Colin Duffy
Natalia Grossman
Jesse Grupper
Sergey Lakhno
Declan Osgood
Cruz Padilla
Brooke Raboutou
Annie Sanders

Full results from the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside TV.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This past weekend, 140 athletes competed in the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships at Pacific Pipe in Oakland, California. Athletes were aiming for national titles across 27 categories, plus the opportunity to join the 2025 National Team, representing the USA at IFSC Para Climbing World Cups. The competition welcomed repeat National Champions, as well as first-time competitors, many of whom shared excitement for Para Climbing’s growth as a recently-announced Paralympic sport.

Full results from the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Finals on Outside TV.

WB1: Lakrout Takes First in Qualification and Finals

After topping her first climb in Qualification, Emeline Lakrout stayed consistent with a first place finish in Finals. Gina Applebee and Leah Grosjean followed closely behind her with a silver and bronze medal respectively. All athletes were one move away from each other with Lakrout at 19 points, Applebee at 18, and Grosjean at 17.

WB2: Biendarra Takes Center Stage for the WB2 Category

The only competitor in WB2 this year, Seneida Biendarra, climbed impressively in Qualification with a top for her first climb, and a fall close to the finish on her second. During Finals, Biendarra fell a bit higher than halfway with a score of 26+.

WB3: Poston Earns both a High Point for WB3 and a Gold Medal

Linn Poston, who fell off the top with only 11 seconds to spare in Finals, was the only climber to top both Qualification climbs.

Being on the wall for nearly six minutes, Poston commented, “This was definitely the longest I’ve stayed on a climb at any competition.”

Following behind Poston was Phoebe Barkan, who won silver, then Amy Mullins, who won bronze.

WAL1: Cook Claims First Place With Two Close Runner-Ups

Carlie Cook climbed calmly to a finishing score of 22+. Andrea Wilson and Brittany Chadbourne originally tied in Qualification with an overall score of 2.24. In Finals, however, Wilson earned the silver medal, separated from Chadbourne by only 37 seconds on the wall.

WRP3: Vorel Earns both a High Point for WRP3 and a Gold Medal

Nat Vorel was the first of their category to make it past what soon proved to be the separating move. Even more impressive about Vorel’s performance was their fight through an apparent shoulder injury, which they suspect held them back.

“I was just there thinking ‘How do I do this?” Vorel said when asked about the crux of the WRP3 Finals problem.

Laura Heaton won silver, followed by Lindsay Purcell, who took bronze.

WRP1: Ruiz Adds Another Gold Medal to her Winning Streak

Melissa Ruiz, a returning National Champion, fell on the top hold of her Finals route, claiming the gold medal. After analyzing what she could have done differently in Finals, Ruiz accepted her performance, although she told us she wishes she didn’t fall on the last move.

Hannah Zook earned silver with a score of 24+, with Jackie Stewart earning bronze with a score of 21+.

WAL2: National Team Athlete Wins First in Qualification and Finals

Morgan Loomis won gold in Finals, renewing her spot on the 2025 Para Climbing National Team. In Finals, the three medalists placed in the same order as in Qualification, with Hannah McFadden taking silver and Daliya Hansen taking bronze.

MRP2: Repeat National Champion Connors Returns for Another Win

Dennis Connors, another returning National Champion, fell just one move from the top, while Ben Mayforth fell only another move below that.

Mayforth’s close call earned him silver, with Brayden Butler following suit in third with a score of 32+. In Qualification, Butler actually placed first ahead of Connors after topping his second climb, which proved to be an impressive turnaround for Connors.

MAU2: Zarzuela Sole Athlete to Top in his Category

Brian Zarzuela was the first and only athlete in his category to top the MAU2 Finals climb, securing the gold medal.

“(The route) was a lot more delicate than powerful. The footwork was the most important part,” Zarzuela said when asked about the crux section of the Finals route.

In a close second for silver was Trevor Smith.

“Our category specifically requires so much more footwork to get the reach we need, and I feel they catered to that really well,” Smith said about the routesetting.

Matthew Lynch followed Smith, winning the bronze medal.

MAU3: Keough Wins Gold at First Para Climbing Competition 

Although this was Mason Keough’s first-ever Para Climbing competition, he took first in both the Qualification and Finals rounds with a score of 20.

When asked about how he enjoyed the routes, Keough commented on his advantages, “I definitely have the best ability crimp-wise with the anatomy of my hand compared to everyone else. This is my first Para Climbing comp. I like meeting new people and everyone’s super nice!”

Following close behind for silver was Braden Shoop, who is also new to competing. Shamus Boulianne won bronze.

MB1: Rahimi Takes Gold

Ahmad Seyar Rahimi climbed to gold, while Eris Skenderi took silver and Terry Hoddinott took bronze, separated by just one move.

MB2: Chao Wins Gold, Bozzone Wins Silver at First Nationals

Kevin Chao had his best performance to date, winning gold. Chao was also the first to top in his Qualification round. Meanwhile, John Bozzone, took silver at his first National Championships.

MB3: Martinez Wins Gold at Second Competition

Andrew Martinez won his first gold medal in the MB3 category. Meanwhile, Gordon Fralick saw a strong start to his career as a Para Climber, wining silver and qualifying for the 2025 Para Climbing National Team after his first National Championships. Diego Kusnir followed with bronze.

WOPEN1: All Three Medalists Finish Just Moves Apart

Norah Schwartz, who has been climbing for over thirty years and has been a life-long advocate for individuals with disabilities, achieved Gold with a score of 22. Meanwhile, Ellie Kneer followed with 21 and Grace Anderson took third with a score of 20. After competing, Schwartz commented on how far Para Climbing has come since she began.

“There used to be 40 of us, now there’s 140 people who competed this weekend,” Schwartz said.

All three athletes had similar performances in the Qualification round, making Finals unpredictable (and especially exciting) for who would take the lead.

WRP2: Seelenfreund and Gleason Fight for Gold

Emily Seelenfreund, who has a collection of gold medals under her belt, found herself on top again. In Qualification, Megan Gleason held the lead with a score of 1.73 compared to Seelenfreund’s score of 2.24, but ultimately took silver in Finals. Caroline Winstel held a consistent bronze placement in both Qualification and Finals.

WAU3: Pritchard Represents Her Category

Ashley Pritchard was the only competitor in her category this year, finishing with a score of 24+.

WAU2: Benvenuti Makes Comeback in Finals

After falling a few moves from the top in the Qualification round, Isabel Benvenuti took gold in Finals.

“It was a really fun climb, it was really technical and it really challenged your ability to read a route and move well,” Benvenuti said when asked how she felt about her performance in Finals.

Meanwhile, Eleanor Rubin won silver and Elise Morley won bronze.

MAL2: Long Climbs from Fourth in Qualification to Gold in Finals

Kyle Long went from fourth place in the Qualification round, behind Ethan Zilz, Lee Shaffer and Corey Ramos, to first in Finals. Long jumped to gold by only one positive motion point in front of Zilz. Winning silver, Zilz climbed one place from third in the Qualification round to second in Finals, with Scott McKinney making a surprising bronze placement after the Qualification round left him in fifth place.

MYouth: Two Podium Athletes Top Finals Climb

Both Teddy Westrick and Nathan McKinley topped their Finals routes, only separated by a cleaner finish by Westrick which earned him the gold medal. In Qualification, Westrick and McKinley were also neck and neck for first with the same exact score of 54+(1). Taiten Wakefield held a consistent placement in third in both Qualification and Finals.

WYouth: Two 2024 National Team Athletes Renew Their Spots

Both Mei Krause and Audrey Chen were part of the 2024 Para Climbing US National Team, with Krause leading the way in both Qualification and Finals with 22 points. Chen’s final score was 11+.

NBOPEN: Nguyen Earns Gold in Both Qualification and Finals

Elliot Nguyen stayed at the top for both Qualification and Finals. Meanwhile, silver medalist Eliana Wallack and bronze medalist Max Gayford originally tied for second in the Qualification round with a shared score of 2.45. Wallack eventually pushed through in Finals, beating Gayford by one point.

WOPEN 2: Finals Podium Stays Consistent from Qualification

All three athletes on the podium ended with the same placements in Finals as they had in their Qualification round. Willow Wilcox won gold with her consistent performance with Michelle Patten just behind her for silver, and Carissa Dahlia winning bronze.

MOPEN2: Lin Wins First Gold

Wayne Lin, who took the lead in both Qualification and Finals, won his first gold this weekend. He and Killian Rooney have competed together before, with both of them also standing on the podium at the 2024 Para Climbing National Championships. Rooney took silver from Drew Coutts by only a positive motion point, making the call extremely close for the podium. Coutts took bronze with a score of 34, with Rooney at 34+.

MAL1: Cislaw Takes First in Both Qualification and Finals

Tanner Cislaw, who has an extensive podium career in IFSC Para Climbing World Cups and IFSC Para Climbing World Championships dating back to 2019, took first in both Qualification and Finals. Jake Frank, who is newer to the competition scene, took silver, while Jacob Rosenquist took bronze. Rosenquist had an overall score of 19+ compared to Frank’s 20+, making the silver placement extremely close.

MRP1: Martin Takes First-Time Gold

Paul Martin crept ahead of seasoned competitor Sunny Yang to win gold. Martin and Yang tied in Qualification with an overall score of 1.41 before Martin proved himself in Finals with a 36+ compared to Yang’s score of 25. Winning bronze was Joshua Unterman who kept his place consistently from Qualification ending with a score of 24+, just one point shy of Yang.

MRP3: Gleason Earns Gold in Both Qualification and Finals

Ian Gleason stayed consistent with his first place finish in both Qualification and Finals. Although Gleason fell close to the top in Qualification, the Finals route proved to be more difficult for the entire category. Mark Jourdian and Ryan Juguan stayed consistent with their placements as well, with Jourdian and Juguan both falling with a positive motion point. Jourdian ended the finals round with a silver medal, with Juguan just behind him in bronze.

MOPEN1: Daniels Takes Gold after Topping Finals Route

Kai Daniels was the only competitor in his category to top the Finals route. When asked if this would encourage him to keep competing, he responded excitedly, commenting on how positive the community has been. The fight for silver was much closer, with Asher Conneally and Chris Connelly only one positive motion point away. Conneally ended up taking silver with a score of 20+, with Connelly just shy with a score of 20.

The top 3 US citizens from each National Team Qualifying Category, plus any Para Climbing Team Pre-Selected athletes, will join the 2025 National Team, representing the USA this year at IFSC Para Climbing World Cups.

Full results from the 2025 Para Climbing National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Finals on Outside TV.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Salt Lake City, Utah (February 24, 2024) – To make education more accessible for athletes who are training for international competitions, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, USA Climbing and Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) have formed an agreement in which SLCC will become the official community college provider to USA Climbing.

The agreement will waive tuition for USA Climbing National Team athletes for up to 12 consecutive semesters, running through at least the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028. USA Climbing athletes will have access to a variety of physiological performance assessments through faculty expertise and resources in the college’s Exercise Science program. This partnership mirrors a similar agreement SLCC has had with the US Speedskating team since 2018.

“We are thrilled about the benefits that this partnership will provide to our athletes. In working directly with SLCC’s Exercise Science Department, our climbers will have access to state-of-the-art assessments and analyses to help them perform at the highest level,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “Additionally, SLCC’s scholarships will empower National Team athletes to more easily pursue academic journeys without sacrificing their athletic commitments.”

In addition to the tuition assistance made possible by the partnership, many athletes find that SLCC’s flexible scheduling and extensive online offerings allow them time to train and compete.

“As Utah ramps up to host the Olympics in 2034, Salt Lake Community College wants to do its part to support future Olympic athletes to make it possible for them to pursue an education while also training for the biggest competition of their lives,” said Greg Peterson, President of Salt Lake Community College. “We are incredibly proud to be able to play a role in supporting these elite athletes.”

A number of Olympians have already attended and graduated from SLCC, including Erin Jackson, who earned a gold medal in speedskating at the 2022 Games.

USA Climbing, which is headquartered in Salt Lake City, oversaw Sport Climbing’s Olympic debut at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. It was at those Games that Nathaniel Coleman, a Salt Lake City native, became the first US Sport Climber to win a silver medal. In the Olympic Games Paris 2024, Colorado-based Brooke Raboutou took home a silver medal in Boulder and Lead, becoming the first US woman to win an Olympic medal in the sport. Sam Watson, another Salt Lake City local, also won a bronze medal and set a new world record in the Men’s Speed category. In 2028, Para Climbing will make its Paralympic debut at the Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

USA climbing will draw more competitive sport climbing athletes to the area with plans to build a world-class national training center in Salt Lake City, where large-scale competitive climbing events will be held, and resources and elite training spaces will cultivate new potential Olympians and Paralympians as soon as the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

About USA Climbing

USA Climbing is the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, supporting athletes, coaches, and events across the country. As a nonprofit organization, USA Climbing’s mission is to promote the growth and development of climbing while advocating for the sport’s values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and environmental responsibility.

About Salt Lake Community College

Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest two-year college, proudly educating the state’s most diverse student body in eight areas of study at eight locations and online. The majority of SLCC graduates transfer to four-year institutions, and thousands more are trained in direct-to-workforce programs. For more than 75 years, SLCC has been providing Utahns with education and training in fields that contribute to the state’s vibrant economy and high quality of life.

Spectator tickets are now on sale for the 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI! This past weekend, 24 of the country’s top Boulder and Lead athletes came together for USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Training Camp, hosted at USA Climbing’s National Training Center, as well as Momentum Indoor Climbing and Petzl America in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Athletes participated in mock competitions, following the format of national-and-international-level events with isolation zones, timed rounds, and competition movement from experienced routesetters.

“It’s great to have so many strong climbers and all the coaches here and be able to learn from everybody,” said Dillon Countryman. “Getting on all the competition-style stuff is super valuable.”

The camp was the latest stop on the road to National Team Trials, will be held at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX on March 12-16, 2025. It will be the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, awarding inclusion on the 2025 National Team.

USA Climbing is excited to announce that TRUBLUE will remain its Official Auto Belay Sponsor through 2028. The ongoing partnership will see the continued use of TRUBLUE Auto Belays in all USA Climbing training facilities and competitions.

“Our athletes have counted on TRUBLUE for years, when fractions of a second make a difference,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “We look forward to building upon our existing relationship with TRUBLUE and having the very best technology at USA Climbing events.”

The TRUBLUE Auto Belay has been the Official Auto Belay of USA Climbing since 2020. Unlike other auto belays, TRUBLUE is equipped with a patented magnetic braking system, which delivers the best performance in the climbing industry and has solidified TRUBLUE’s status as the global leader in auto belay technology.

“We’re delighted to extend our partnership with USA Climbing,” said Lea Ann Zuellig, President and CEO of Head Rush Technologies, makers of the TRUBLUE Auto Belay. “Interest in climbing has never been higher and Team USA athletes are incredible role models for the new wave of climbers coming into the sport. We’re looking forward to giving USA Climbing our full support in the lead up to the 2028 Olympics.”

In the rapidly growing sport of speed climbing, the specially-calibrated TRUBLUE Speed Auto Belay will be relied upon as the primary safety mechanism for Speed Climbing at USA Climbing competitions, including National Championships, National Team Trials, and the North American Cup Series.

TRUBLUE is also the preferred training tool of US speed climbing record holder Emma Hunt and speed climbing world record holder Sam Watson. Both athletes represent USA Climbing as members of the elite speed climbing team.

USA Climbing, the National Governing Body for the sport of climbing, is thrilled to announce the addition of Brian McAndrews as an Independent Director on its Board of Directors.

While new to climbing, McAndrews has a longstanding passion for sports. He competed as a varsity track and field athlete in college, enjoys playing tennis in his free time, and he and his wife are minority owners of the Seattle Sounders FC.

McAndrews brings extensive leadership experience, currently serving on the boards of Xero and The Wine Group, as Lead Director of FrontDoor and The New York Times, and as a Senior Advisor to Spectrum Equity.

McAndrews’ distinguished career includes serving as Chairman and CEO of Pandora Media and as a Managing Director with Madrona Venture Group. He was CEO of aQuantive, a leading digital marketing services and technology company acquired by Microsoft, where he became Senior Vice President of the Advertising business. Prior to aQuantive, McAndrews worked with Disney/ABC, holding executive positions at ABC Sports, ABC Entertainment, and ABC Television Network.

“My most fulfilling experiences as an executive and board member have been rooted in contributing to something new, evolving, and full of potential,” McAndrews shared upon accepting the role. “USA Climbing’s remarkable growth makes serving on the Board especially exciting, as it offers the chance to help shape our future strategy, unlock tremendous opportunities, and be part of building what can be an extraordinary future for the organization.”

“Independent board members play a vital role in bringing objective perspectives and diverse expertise to the table,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “Brian’s expertise and professional acumen will be invaluable in strengthening our Board’s efforts to promote and elevate the growth of climbing to new heights.”

McAndrews holds an A.B. in Economics from Harvard College, where he competed on the varsity track team, and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He has also demonstrated a deep commitment to service in the community, serving for ten years on the board of United Way of King County, including as chairman, and currently volunteering as a CASA.

McAndrews’ appointment coincides with the addition of Sophie Curcio and Nekaia Sanders, USA Climbing’s newly-elected Team USA Athlete Representative and Alternate, respectively, to the Board of Directors in 2025. With these appointments, all open seats on the USA Climbing Board of Directors are now filled.

Click here to learn more about the USA Climbing Board of Directors.

Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing are excited to announce that the North American Cup Series (NACS) is back for 2025!

NACS features the three individual disciplines of climbing – Boulder, Lead, and Speed – and allows athletes from the Americas the opportunity to compete at an elite level and develop outside of the World Cup circuit. The 2025 NACS will kick off in Greenville, SC in April and will consist of at least six stops across the United States and Canada.

2025 Dates and Locations: 

April 5-6
Greenville, SC (Boulder)
Hosted by USA Climbing
In Partnership with BlocHaven

April 12-13
Murfreesboro, TN (Lead)
Hosted by USA Climbing
In Partnership with Climb Murfreesboro

May 3-4
Montreal, Canada (Boulder)
Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada

June 5-8
Vail, CO (Boulder, Speed)
Hosted by USA Climbing
In Partnership with the GoPro Mountain Games

June 21-22
Edmonton, Canada (Lead, Speed)
Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada

August 23-24
Salt Lake City, UT (Lead, Speed)
Hosted by USA Climbing

Spectator tickets and streaming info for the events will be published to the Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing websites throughout the season.

Participants in the Series must be licensed with and register through their respective National Federations. Detailed information sheets for each event including registration, training availability, time schedules, etc. will be provided a minimum of 30 days prior to each event. Rules for the events will be published to the Climbing Escalade Canada and USA Climbing websites.

This past weekend, 21 of the country’s top Speed Climbing athletes came together for USA Climbing’s Speed Training Camp, hosted at Movement Plano. The camp offered valuable lessons, both on and off the 15-meter speed wall, to help refine athletes’ performance this season.

Olexiy Shulga, Head Coach of Team CRG Atlanta, led the climbing programming, having extensive experience working with some of the highest-performing Speed Climbers in the country. Multiple officials from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee also traveled to support athletes, including Amanda Fleece, Senior Strength & Conditioning Coach, and Sean McCann, Senior Psychological Services Provider.

Of course, another goal of the camp was simply to bring athletes together from around the country. Many only have that opportunity during competition, but training camps allow top athletes to compare programming and techniques, as well as refine their skills in a more collaborative space.

The camp was the latest stop on the road to National Team Trials, will be held at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX on March 12-16, 2025. It will be the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, awarding inclusion on the 2025 National Team.

In December 2023, USA Climbing paused its Transgender Athlete Participation (TAP) Policy to allow the Board of Directors to engage in discussion with members of the trans, nonbinary, and/or intersex community. In addition, USA Climbing launched a survey soliciting member feedback on transgender participation, hosted listening sessions, and formed a policy revision group.

The Board of Directors weighed multiple perspectives extensively over a year of community engagement, culminating in a meeting on January 8 to discuss and vote on transgender athlete participation. The Board was polled anonymously to establish consensus for the various components of the policy and direction on applicability to participation.

This direction has been provided to the TAP policy revision group now tasked with writing a draft policy that will be brought to the Board for feedback and approval. The final policy is expected to be announced this spring, with implementation for the 2025-2026 competition season. There will be no impact on the 2024-2025 competition season.

The Board voted for the following as it relates to transgender athlete participation:

Please note that athletes who are not eligible to compete for the United States in IFSC-sanctioned competitions will be referred to below as “National Team Ineligible”. This includes transgender athletes who do not comply with the current IFSC policy found here.

Youth Series

• All athletes will be allowed to participate in all categories of the Youth Series and at all levels of competition, in addition to the Youth Recreational Series.
• For Youth categories U17 and above:
  • Where National Team Ineligible athletes are within the range of advancement for rounds, competitions, or the US National and Development Teams, additional eligible athletes will be advanced.
  • National Team Ineligible athletes are not eligible for the US National and Development Teams, however, they can qualify for other Team benefits.

Collegiate Series

• All athletes will be allowed to participate in the Intermediate category.
• Transgender athletes who are not in compliance with IFSC policy will not be allowed to participate in the Advanced category.

Elite Series

• National Team Ineligible athletes will not be allowed to participate in the Elite Series National Championships and National Team Trials.
• National Team Ineligible athlete participation in North American Cup Series events is pending further review by participating federations.

Para Climbing Series

• All athletes will be allowed to participate in non-qualifying and non-selection events in the Para Climbing Series.
• National Team Ineligible athletes will not be allowed to participate in Para Climbing National Championships or other events that qualify for National Championships.

The Board will continue to monitor IFSC, Federal, and State regulations while consulting with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee in considering future measures.

The current status of the TAP policy, as well as policy resources, can be found on the Transgender Athlete Participation page of the USA Climbing website.

The USA Climbing National Team Trials presented by YETI return for 2025 and will be hosted at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX, March 12-16. It’s the second and final National Team selection event for the Elite series, where the country’s top climbers will be competing for inclusion on the 2025 National Team. Those National Team athletes will join the International Federation of Sport Climbing’s World Cup circuit, representing the U.S. around the world in 2025.

“We’re looking forward to being back in Austin,” said John Muse, VP of Sport at USA Climbing. “Mesa Rim was a fantastic host for this event in 2023. The upcoming National Team Trials are sure to welcome fierce competition and even bigger crowds.”

“Mesa Rim is ecstatic to be teaming up with USA Climbing to bring the National Team Trials back to Austin,” said Aaron Kerkvliet, Site Manager at Mesa Rim Austin. “We are excited to showcase our world class competition walls and provide the stage for these athletes to compete at the highest level.”

Boulder, Lead, and Speed will all be on display at the event, with each discipline offering its own National Team quota.

Athlete registration will open on Wednesday, January 8. All event resources, including spectator tickets, will become available on the National Team Trials event page.

USA Climbing is proud to announce the election results for the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. Sophia Curcio will serve as USA Climbing’s Team USA AC Representative, while Nekaia Sanders will serve as the Alternate Representative, following voting from fellow athletes.

“I decided to run for election because I wanted to give back to a sport that has given me so much,” said Curcio after accepting her new role. “I want to be able to contribute to Sport Climbing so that the future generations of athletes can know that our national governing body has their best interest in mind when making decisions.”

Curcio and Sanders will also serve on the USA Climbing Athletes’ Commission and the USA Climbing Board of Directors, further contributing the unique perspective of athletes to the strategic direction of USA Climbing.

“My goal is to amplify athletes’ voices by serving as both a liaison and an advocate,” said Sanders. “It is an honor and privilege to take on this role as an alternate, and I hope to make a meaningful contribution to our community’s future.”

“We’re thankful to have such engaged athletes serving as a link between USA Climbing and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “We’ve enjoyed following Sophia and Nekaia’s competitive successes and can’t wait to welcome them to our Board of Directors in 2025.”

Both Curcio and Sanders represented the U.S. during the 2024 IFSC World Cup season and are expected to compete at the 2025 USA Climbing National Team Trials, in hopes of returning to the National Team.

All members of the USA Climbing Board of Directors and their bios can be found here.

Congratulations to athletes Sophia Curcio and Nekaia Sanders, USA Climbing’s two candidates running for election to serve on the Team USA Athletes’ Commission. The candidate with the highest vote total will be elected as USA Climbing’s Team USA AC Representative, and the other will serve as the Alternate Representative. The Team USA AC Representative serves an important role as the liaison between USA Climbing athletes and the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee. Both the Representative and Alternate will also serve on the USA Climbing Athletes’ Commission and the USA Climbing Board of Directors. Eligible athletes are voting now and results will be announced by the end of the year. Good luck, Sophia and Nekaia!

USA Climbing invites eligible athletes to run for election as a Team USA Athletes’ Commission Representative.

The Team USA Athletes’ Commission (Team USA AC) is calling for self-nominations to serve as the Team USA AC Representative for USA Climbing for the 2025-2028 Quad. Following self-nominations from eligible athletes, USA Climbing will distribute voting instructions, with election results being announced by December 31, 2024. In addition to being a member of the Team USA AC, the elected USA Climbing Representative to the Team USA AC will also serve as an Athlete Director on USA Climbing’s Board of Directors, and as a member of USA Climbing’s Athletes’ Commission. Interested athletes can learn more about eligibility and how to apply here. Self-nominations are due by Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. MT.

This past week, 20 climbers represented Team USA in Santiago, Chile for the IFSC Pan American Championships. For 15 athletes, this was their first time ever competing at this specific event, although five athletes have been to Pan American Youth Championships in the past.

The Pan American Championships is a multi-day event exclusively for athletes from the Americas to compete on a continental stage. Similar to other competitions, athletes have the opportunity to compete in all three disciplines: Boulder, Lead, and Speed.

November 20th marked the start of the competition with the men’s Lead qualification and the women’s Boulder qualification rounds. The women’s and men’s Boulder finals concluded the event on November 24th, with an award ceremony that followed revealing extremely promising results for the US. The US national team won more medals than any other team at the championships.

Sato Takes Gold in Lead

US athlete Nathan Sato from Colorado took gold in Lead, which marked Sato’s best performance at any IFSC competition he’s been in so far, with his experience in the IFSC circuit going back to 2022 when he was still competing in the youth circuit. After placing eighth in Lead at his first Youth World Championship in 2022, Sato has climbed in one more Youth World Championship and four more IFSC World Cups before making it to the Pan American Championships.

Also earning a spot on the podium in the men’s Lead final was Declan Osgood who won bronze, with a surprising comeback after initially tying for seventh during qualifiers. Also representing the US in the men’s Lead discipline were Hugo Hoyer and Cruz Padilla.

Olivia Ma and Kyra Condie Place Back to Back in the Women’s Lead Final

US athlete Olivia Ma from New Jersey took silver in Lead with a score of 38+, with Kyra Condie from Utah following closely behind in third with a score of 37. Interestingly, Ma also got silver at the 2019 IFSC Youth Championships in Boulder. Being 9 years older than Ma, Condie has an extensive list of IFSC competition experience going back to 2012, with a consistent spot on the Olympic team since 2020.

Also representing the US in the women’s Lead discipline was Adriene Akiko Clark.

Lin and Jennings Podium Seconds Apart

US athlete Thomas Lin from California took silver in Speed, with Lin falling behind Ecuador’s Carlos Felipe Granja Lopez by only 0.28 seconds in the final. Lin has the least IFSC competition experience out of his teammates, but in 2024 alone he’s already competed in five IFSC events. Ben Jennings from Indiana took bronze, with Speed being the only discipline he’s competed in during any IFSC competition. His time of 5.98 seconds earned Jennings a spot at third. Lin achieved a slightly shorter time at 5.79 seconds.

Also representing the US in the men’s Speed discipline were Noah Bratschi and Aidan Goddard.

Runnels Takes Bronze in Speed

US athlete Liberty Runnels from Texas took bronze in Speed, only three-hundredths of a second in front of Sophia Curcio from Georgia. Runnels began competing in IFSC competitions in 2022 exclusively in Speed climbing, with this performance being her best at 8.74 seconds in her final round.

Also representing the US in the women’s Speed discipline were Lily Nguyen and Micaela Patajo.

Clark Wins Gold in Boulder

US athlete Adriene Akiko Clark from Colorado took gold in Boulder, marking Clark’s best performance at any IFSC competition she’s been in so far. Since 2022 at the IFSC World Cup Seoul, Clark has competed in 12 IFSC events, however, her placement in Santiago reigns as her greatest performance so far.

Also representing the US in the women’s Boulder discipline were Kyra Condie, Kylie Cullen, and Nekaia Sanders.

Hugo Hoyer Places Second in Boulder

US athlete Hugo Hoyer from Tennessee placed second in Boulder, with an active career in IFSC competitions since his participation in the Youth World Championships back in 2021. Hoyer made a consistent impression on the youth circuit, with his most notable performance being when he became the 2022 Youth World Champion in Boulder.

Also representing the US in the men’s Boulder discipline were Charles Barron, Simon Hibbeler, and Adam Shahar.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Pan America’s best climbers are headed to Santiago, Chile this week for the IFSC’s Continental Championships. All three (3) disciplines are on display and 20 athletes will be representing Team USA. It will be the first time competing at the Pan American Championships for most of the US athletes, like Cruz Padilla, who recently became this year’s Lead National Champion.

“I’m excited, very happy, and grateful to be in this position and have this blessed opportunity,” said Padilla. “I’m stoked to try my hardest with some awesome teammates and coaches.”

Men’s Boulder Athletes

• Charles Barron | Santiago will be Barron’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Simon Hibbeler | Santiago will be Hibbeler’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Hugo Hoyer | Santiago will be Hoyer’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Adam Shahar | Santiago will be Shahar’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.

Women’s Boulder Athletes

• Kyra Condie | Santiago will be Condie’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships, plus she’s competed at two Pan American Youth Championships.
• Kylie Cullen | Santiago will be Cullen’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Nekaia Sanders | Santiago will be Sanders’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Youth Championships in 2017.
• Adriene Akiko Clark | Santiago will be Clark’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.

Men’s Lead Athletes

• Hugo Hoyer | Santiago will be Hoyer’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Declan Osgood | Santiago will be Osgood’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Cruz Padilla | Santiago will be Padilla’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Nathan Sato | Santiago will be Sato’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.

Women’s Lead Athletes

• Kyra Condie | Santiago will be Condie’s second appearance at the Pan American Championships, plus she’s competed at two Pan American Youth Championships.
• Adriene Akiko Clark | Santiago will be Clark’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Olivia Ma | Santiago will be Ma’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Youth Championships in 2019.

Men’s Speed Athletes

• Noah Bratschi | Santiago will be Bratschi’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although he competed at the Pan American Games in 2023, plus two Pan American Youth Championships.
• Aidan Goddard | Santiago will be Goddard’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Ben Jennings | Santiago will be Jennings’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Thomas Lin | Santiago will be Lin’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.

Women’s Speed Athletes

• Sophia Curcio | Santiago will be Curcio’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships, although she competed at the Pan American Games in 2023.
• Lily Nguyen | Santiago will be Nguyen’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Micaela Patajo | Santiago will be Patajo’s first appearance at the Pan American Championships.
• Liberty Runnels | Santiago will be Runnels’ first appearance at the Pan American Championships.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

The Para Climbing National Championships return for 2025 and will be hosted at Touchstone Pacific Pipe in Oakland, CA, March 1-2. The top three (3) ranked athletes per gender in each category will go on to represent the U.S. as a part of the Para Climbing National Team, with the chance to compete in IFSC Para Climbing World Cups.

“We’re over the moon about hosting Para Climbing Nationals at our flagship facility, Pacific Pipe, in Oakland,” said Ryan Moon, Events Coordinator + Programs Director of Touchstone Climbing. “We’re so thankful for the optimistic and refreshing energy the  Para Climbing community brings to our gyms throughout the year so it’s extra special to have the opportunity to host such a monumental event on our home turf.”

This will be the first Para Climbing National Championships since the International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board approved the addition of Para Climbing to the Paralympic Sport Program for the LA28 Games, and is sure to bring fierce competition as the sport embraces its first-ever Paralympic cycle.

Athlete registration will open on Monday, November 18. All event resources will become available on the Para Climbing National Championships landing page.

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 1, 2024 — On Sunday, the USA Climbing Board of Directors voted unanimously to pursue a partnership with Momentum to operate its National Training Center (NTC).

As the two organizations work towards a final partnership agreement, the operating model will prioritize evaluating revenue sources beyond traditional membership models with a commitment to community access. Through this partnership, USA Climbing and Momentum are eager to support the health of the local climbing gym industry and the growth of climbing nationwide.

The NTC will be a world-class facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, housing the headquarters for USA Climbing; hosting large-scale events; and providing a variety of fully-accessible training spaces, climbing terrain, and other resources to strengthen the development of competitive climbers (Youth, Collegiate, Para Climbing, and Elite) from across the country.

“We are excited to partner with Momentum to advance this historic project,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “Throughout our discussions, Momentum continually demonstrated their close alignment with our mission and support of our goals for the NTC. It’s been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated team, and we appreciate their longstanding support and advocacy of USA Climbing and the industry.”

“Momentum is honored to join USA Climbing in its goal of creating an exceptional National Training Center,” said Jeff Pedersen, CEO of Momentum. “We look forward to collaborating with Marc Norman and the USA Climbing team as we unite to elevate competitive climbing, and share its benefits with the greater climbing community.”

The decision comes after months of dialogue between USA Climbing and the gym community, including discussions led by USA Climbing’s Gym Partner Task Force; the addition of a gym operator on the USA Climbing Board of Directors; the inclusion of gym partners in strategic planning; and the establishment of a joint Climbing Wall Association/USA Climbing committee, which continues to meet regularly to advance shared priorities.

USA Climbing issued its Request for Interest (RFI) to gym operators in April, spurring five thoughtful submissions from across the United States. Two finalists, Momentum and Touchstone, were recommended to the Board by an Evaluation Committee comprised of USA Climbing staff, Board members, and external individuals—including those with diverse gym construction and management expertise. The decision to advance Momentum came after extensive discussions, site visits, and modeling with the two finalists.

“We extend our deep appreciation to Touchstone for challenging our perspective of what a National Training Center could be,” said Norman. “The Touchstone team has created an amazing climbing community in California. We gained valuable insights firsthand and look forward to continuing to build the relationship between our two organizations.”

USA Climbing is thankful to all the gym operators who participated in discussions about the NTC project and will continue to engage stakeholders as the project progresses. For more information, visit USAClimbing.org/National-Training-Center.

About USA Climbing

USA Climbing is the national governing body for competitive climbing in the United States, supporting athletes, coaches, and events across the country. As a nonprofit organization, USA Climbing’s mission is to promote the growth and development of climbing while advocating for the sport’s values of inclusivity, sportsmanship, and environmental responsibility.

About Momentum

Momentum was created to inspire and empower climbers to their full potential. Diverse people of all abilities forge friendships and learn new skills with our experienced staff. The Momentum community builds better climbers, from day one to the elite level. We look forward to seeing you at the gym.

Of the more than 100 Boulder athletes who competed throughout the 2024 YETI National Championships, just six men and six women advanced to Finals in Salt Lake City last night. Melina Costanza defended both of her titles from last year, becoming the 2024 Boulder National Champion just two days after becoming the 2024 Lead National Champion. Meanwhile, Vail Everett advanced to Finals for the first (Lead) and second (Boulder) times at the National Championships, then became the 2024 Boulder National Champion.

Melina Costanza Wins Gold in Women’s Boulder

Women’s Boulder Podium:

1. Melina Costanza
2. Cloe Coscoy
3. Jojo Chi

“I feel so happy and grateful to be here,” said Costanza after the competition. “This has been a really fun week.”

Vail Everett Wins Gold in Men’s Boulder

Men’s Boulder Podium:

1. Vail Everett
2. Zander Waller
3. Brenden Beauchamp

“I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid… since I started climbing,” said Everett after the competition. “I kind of visualized winning in ISO and, when I saw the boulders, I saw that it could really happen.”

Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

Monday night brought the second podium of the 2024 YETI National Championships, this time in the Lead discipline. It was a star-studded cast of finalists, including both of the 2023 Lead National Champions, Melina Costanza and Hugo Hoyer, plus two other members of the 2024 National Team and a handful of up-and-comers.

Melina Costanza Wins Gold in Women’s Lead

Women’s Lead Podium:

1. Melina Costanza
2. Analise Van Hoang
3. Quinn Mason

“That was the hardest route I have ever had in a Final. It took pretty much everything I had,” said Costanza. “I think my mindset was the biggest thing and it felt good to see the training has been paying off.”

Cruz Padilla Wins Gold in Men’s Lead

Men’s Lead Podium:

1. Cruz Padilla
2. Hugo Hoyer
3. Sergey Lakhno

“This is like a dream come true for me,” said Padilla. “The lights, the crowd… it was a very vibrant experience.”

Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

As the sun set over Salt Lake City last night, 32 of the country’s fastest speed climbers stepped up to the plate for finals. Up-and-comers like Taede Mai, who won gold in the Male Youth A category of this year’s Youth National Championships, joined speed icons like Emma Hunt, who’s still fresh off her first Olympic performance in Paris.

Merritt Ernsberger Wins Gold in Men’s Speed

Men’s Speed Podium:

1. Merritt Ernsberger
2. Logan Miner
3. Taede Mai

“I feel amazing,” said Ernsberger, who’s celebrating his first-ever National Title. “I just wanted to come out and let my body do what it knows how to do, and I’m really happy about the result.”

Emma Hunt Wins Gold in Women’s Speed

Women’s Speed Podium:

1. Emma Hunt
2. Sophia Curcio
3. Isis Rothfork

“There was a lot of nerves. I was just trying to knock the rust off, and I’m very happy with how it all went,” said Hunt, who’s no stranger to winning competitions hosted at the National Training Center. “Salt Lake City is kind of like my second home at this point.”

Full results from the 2024 YETI National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds on Outside Watch.

Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.

This past weekend, Team USA and President Biden invited US Olympians and Paralympians to Washington DC to celebrate their success at the Paris Games. Representing Sport Climbing were Jesse Grupper (Men’s Boulder & Lead), Zach Hammer (Men’s Speed), Emma Hunt (Women’s Speed), Piper Kelly (Women’s Speed), and Sam Watson (Men’s Speed).

The trip offered helpful programming for athletes, with workshops covering professional development, communication, and mental health, led by seasoned athletes and US Olympic & Paralympic Committee staff alike.

On Monday, athletes traveled to the White House, where they received a tour of the grounds, heard remarks from Joe Biden, and met with the nation’s leadership. “Whether this was your first time at the Games or the peak of a distinguished career, your legacy is one of discipline, success, joy, and loyalty to one another,” said Biden, addressing Team USA’s athletes on the South Lawn. “And that legacy is part of something bigger than yourselves: It’s about your country, the greatest sports nation in the history of the world.”

 

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Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.