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, Paraclimbing, 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: Melina Costanza Cloe Coscoy 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: Vail Everett Zander Waller 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: Melina Costanza Analise Van Hoang 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: Cruz Padilla Hugo Hoyer 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: Merritt Ernsberger Logan Miner 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: Emma Hunt Sophia Curcio 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.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Team USA (@teamusa) Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.
World Cup season comes to an end this week in Seoul, Korea, with Boulder, Lead, and Speed all on the schedule. 14 athletes will be representing Team USA over the five days of competition. How To Watch You can watch the IFSC World Cup Seoul 2024 Semi-Final and Final rounds live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting on Thursday, October 3. Men’s Boulder Athletes Adam Shahar | Seoul will be Shahar’s 4th World Cup. Charles Barron | Seoul will be Barron’s 7th World Cup. Women’s Boulder Athletes Natalia Grossman | Seoul will be Grossman’s 32nd World Cup. Annie Sanders | Seoul will be Sanders’ 12th World Cup. Men’s Lead Athletes Nathan Sato | Seoul will be Sato’s 3rd World Cup. Women’s Lead Athletes Annie Sanders | Seoul will be Sanders’ 12th World Cup Men’s Speed Athletes Sam Watson | Seoul will be Watson’s 17th World Cup, and his 1st since returning from the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Zach Hammer | Seoul will be Hammer’s 15th World Cup, and his 1st since returning from the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Noah Bratschi | Seoul will be Bratschi’s 23rd World Cup. Michael Hom | Seoul will be Hom’s 2nd World Cup, and his 1st outside the USA. Ben Jennings | Seoul will be Jennings’ 3rd World Cup. Women’s Speed Athletes Piper Kelly | Seoul will be Kelly’s 15th World Cup. Sophia Curcio | Seoul will be Curcio’s 16th World Cup. Isis Rothfork | Seoul will be Rothfork’s 9th World Cup. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The third and final Paraclimbing World Cup of the season ended this past weekend in Arco, Italy. Of the 23 athletes representing USA, 11 also won medals (2 bronze, 3 silver, and 2 gold) to close out the season. 7 Athletes Podium at Paraclimbing World Cup Arco 2024 Emeline Lakrout (Silver, Women’s B1) Cail Soria (Bronze, Women’s AL2) Brian Zarzuela (Gold, Men’s AU2) Eleanor Rubin (Silver, Women’s AU2) Ben Mayforth (Silver, Men’s RP2) Melissa Ruiz (Gold, Women’s RP1) Laura Heaton (Bronze, Women’s RP3) “It feels amazing, this one meant a lot,” said Brian Zarzuela, after winning gold. “The route was fun, you couldn’t ask for more.” Full Results for the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup Arco 2024 can be found here. You can rewatch the Final rounds on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
This third and final Paraclimbing World Cup kicks off in Arco, Italy this Friday. 23 athletes will be representing Team USA, and it’s the first World Cup outside the USA for Alexandra Redshaw and Michael Prince. How To Watch You can watch the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup Arco 2024 Finals round live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting on Saturday, September 28. Women’s Athletes Alexandra Redshaw (Women’s AU2) Cail Soria (Women’s AL2) Caroline Winstel (Women’s RP2) Eleanor Rubin (Women’s AU2) Emeline Lakrout (Women’s B1) Hannah Zook (Women’s RP1) Isabel Benvenuti (Women’s AU2) Laura Heaton (Women’s RP3) Leah Grosjean (Women’s B1) Lindsay Purcell (Women’s RP3) Mary Tankersley (Women’s AL2) Melissa Ruiz (Women’s RP1) Morgan Loomis (Women’s AL2) Men’s Athletes Caleb Cowan (Men’s AL2) Jeffrey Mellenthin (Men’s RP2) Wasif Shams (Men’s RP2) Ben Mayforth (Men’s RP2) Brian Zarzuela (Men’s AU2) Daniel Medina (Men’s RP3) Ian Gleason (Men’s RP3) Matthew Lynch (Men’s AU2) Michael Prince (Men’s RP3) Nathan Payne (Men’s AL2) “I’m truly grateful to have the opportunity to climb in such an incredible venue, in a beautiful city, amongst the most phenomenal athletes in the world,” said Alexandra Redshaw. “To watch, learn, support, and hold space for one another is such a humbling experience and a gift.” Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
This past weekend, seven (7) climbers represented Team USA in Prague, Czech Republic for the IFSC Climbing World Cup. It was this season’s fourth round of Boulder competition and marked some major milestones for the athletes: it was Adam Shahar’s first Semi-Final at a World Cup (his third World Cup overall); it was Kyra Condie’s 48th World Cup; and it was Natalia Grossman’s first World Cup since returning from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 (and, eventually, her 11th gold medal at a World Cup). Grossman Wins Gold in Women’s Boulder Grossman had a near-perfect performance throughout the weekend. In the Qualification round, She finished first in her group, tying her for first overall, after topping all five (5) boulders in either one (1) or two (2) attempts each. In the Semi-Final, she finished first again, after topping three (3) of the four (4) boulders, and she was the only competitor to top W4. In the Final, she struggled with W1, taking nine (9) attempts, but eventually finding the top. W2 gave the entire field trouble, with France’s Naïlé Meignan claiming the only top, and both Japan’s Anon Matsufuji and Grossman reaching the zone. Things started to turn around when Grossman found the top of W3 in just one (1) attempt. She then battled W4 for seven (7) attempts, becoming the only competitor of the round to reach the top. That performance secured Grossman the gold medal, which is her second World Cup gold this year and 11th World Cup gold overall. “This win means so much to me, more than any win I’ve had recently,” said Grossman after the competition. “It signifies that if I believe in myself, I can do it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) Also representing Team USA in Prague were Charles Barron, Kyra Condie, Helen Gillett, Ben Hanna, Hugo Hoyer, and Adam Shahar. Full Results for the IFSC World Cup Prague 2024 can be found here. You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Prague 2024 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
World Cup season continues this weekend in Prague, Czech Republic, marking this season’s fourth round of Boulder competition. Among the 160 athletes registered to compete are seven (7) athletes representing Team USA. How To Watch You can watch the IFSC World Cup Prague 2024 live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting on Saturday, September 21. Men’s Lead Athletes Hugo Hoyer | Prague will be Hoyer’s 12th World Cup. Adam Shahar | Prague will be Shahar’s 3rd World Cup, with this being his first World Cup season. Benjamin Hanna | Prague will be Hanna’s 22nd World Cup. Charles Barron | Prague will be Barron’s 6th World Cup. Women’s Lead Athletes Natalia Grossman | Prague will be Grossman’s 31st World Cup and her first since returning from the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Helen Gillett | Prague will be Gillett’s 6th World Cup. Kyra Condie | Prague will be Condie’s 48th World Cup, making her the most experienced World Cup climber representing the USA. “I can’t believe it’s almost been 50 world cups,” said Condie. “I feel like I learn just as much at my 48th as I did at my 1st.” Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The 2024 North American Cup Series (NACS) traveled to Hackensack, New Jersey this past weekend for its second-to-last competition. Hosted at GOAT Climbing Gym, the event included the Lead and Speed disciplines and welcomed a wide range of climbers. Athletes traveled from five (5) countries to compete, and the podiums welcomed both up-and-comers like Emiko Takeuchi (15-years-old) and competition icons like Chris Sharma (43-years-old) alike. The event ended with 12 more medals won, plus qualification for the YETI National Championships for many of the USA’s competitors. Men’s Lead Podium Sergey Lakhno (USA) Chris Sharma (USA) Jayden Perez (USA) Full Results Women’s Lead Podium Jojo Chi (USA) Melina Costanza (USA) Lauren Bair (USA) Full Results Men’s Speed Podium Kaden Kang (USA) Zaden Rogers (USA) Ethan Freudenheim (USA) Full Results Women’s Speed Podium Emiko Takeuchi (USA) Kayleigh Borek (USA) Jojo Chi (USA) Full Results How To Watch You can rewatch the semi-final and final rounds of NACS Hackesnack 2024 at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. The next and final NACS competition will be hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada from October 4-6 in Richmond, British Columbia. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for future updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The FISU University Championships kick off in Koper, Slovenia this week! FISU, the International University Sports Federation, organizes sports and educational events with the mission of providing university students with the opportunities to connect and exchange with students from around the world, in a collaborative and competitive environment. The U.S. Collegiate National Team, determined by the USA Climbing Collegiate National Championships earlier this year, includes 28 Boulder, Lead, and Speed athletes representing the USA at the championships. How To Watch You can watch the FISU University Championships Koper 2024 live on FISU.tv, starting on Friday, September 9. Monday, September 9 1:00 a.m. MDT / 9:00 a.m. CEST | Boulder Qualifications Tuesday, September 10 1:00 a.m. MDT / 9:00 a.m. CEST | Boulder Semi-Finals 5:30 a.m. MDT / 1:30 CEST | Speed Qualifications 11:00 a.m. MDT / 7:00 p.m. CEST | Boulder Finals 1:00 p.m. MDT / 9:00 p.m. CEST | Medal Ceremony (Boulder) Wednesday, September 11 1:00 a.m. MDT / 9:00 a.m. CEST | Lead Qualifications 8:00 a.m. MDT / 4:00 p.m. CEST | Speed Finals 10:00 a.m. MDT / 6:00 p.m. CEST | Medal Ceremony (Speed) Thursday, September 12 1:00 a.m. MDT / 9:00 a.m. CEST | Lead Semi-Finals 8:00 a.m. MDT / 4:00 p.m. CEST | Lead Finals 10:00 a.m. MDT / 6:00 p.m. CEST | Closing and Medal (Lead) Ceremony Athletes Representing the USA Women’s Boulder Athletes Zoe Bitters Norah Chi Sophia Hoermann Tate Jennings Anika Shoemaker Men’s Boulder Athletes Jack Felix Isaac Leff Nathan Monte Matthew Sherman Benn Wheeler Women’s Speed Athletes Kaitlyn Guay Sonia Gutierrez Mae Kim Kiara Pellicane-Hart Isis Rothfork Men’s Speed Athletes Ryan Bauer Jack Conroy Ethan Freudenheim Ben Jennings Anton Smolyanyy Women’s Lead Athletes Julia Duffy Tate Jennings Olivia Ma Anika Shoemaker Helen Stephens Men’s Lead Athletes Kesrith Balistreri Josh Greenbaum Samuel Hsin Jacob Kelleghan Nicholas Lindner Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
This past weekend, five (5) climbers represented Team USA in Koper, Slovenia for the IFSC Climbing World Cup. It was this season’s fifth round of Lead competition, but a weekend of firsts for Team USA: Olivia Ogier’s first World Cup, Ross Fulkerson’s first World Cup of the season, and Annie Sanders’ first Lead podium at a World Cup. Sanders Takes Bronze in Women’s Lead Annie Sanders had no trouble reaching the Final round in Koper, having finished second in the Qualification round and fifth in the Semi-Final round. Sanders was the fourth climber to take the stage in Finals and her performance was marked by controlled movement, relying on both height and careful foot placements, which helped her climb less dynamically than the previous three competitors. Her climbing ended on hold 39+, placing her in provisional first and eventually landing her in third, only behind Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret and Austria’s Jessica Pilz. Also representing Team USA in Koper were Adriene Akiko Clark, Ross Fulkerson, Olivia Ogier, and Nathan Sato. Full Results for the IFSC World Cup Koper 2024 can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Koper 2024 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
World Cup season continues in Koper, Slovenia, marking this season’s fifth round of Lead competition. Among the 134 athletes registered to compete are 5 athletes representing Team USA. How To Watch You can watch the IFSC World Cup Koper 2024 live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting on Friday, September 6. Men’s Lead Athletes Ross Fulkerson | Koper will be Fulkerson’s 1st World Cup of the season and 18th World Cup overall. Nathan Sato | Koper will be Sato’s 2nd World Cup, with this being his first World Cup season. Women’s Lead Athletes Adriene Akiko Clark | Koper will be Clark’s 12th World Cup overall. Olivia Ogier | Koper will be Ogier’s first-ever World Cup. Annie Sanders | Koper will Sanders’ 11th World Cup overall. “I’ve had this dream since I was a little kid, and it feels surreal that I am seeing it through in Koper,” said Olivia Ogier, for whom Koper will be the first-ever World Cup experience. “I’m trying to soak up as much of the experience as possible. There’s no better way to learn than from the other athletes!” Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The 2024 IFSC Youth World Championships ended this past weekend in Guiyang, China. Among the 599 athletes from 49 nations were 42 representing the USA. Here’s how Team USA showed up, by the numbers: 18 Boulder athletes, 17 Lead athletes, 19 Speed athletes 14 U20 athletes (18-19-years-old), 14 U18 (16-17-years-old) athletes, 14 U16 (14-15-years-old) athletes 28 male athletes, 26 female athletes 26 Semi-Finalists, 12 Finalists 1 medal (Silver, earned by Michael Hom, Speed, U18 Male) It was also the first IFSC competition for 22 of those 42 athletes, and the end of youth competition for others. “While I didn’t get the result I wanted, it was such a fun competition and great ending to my youth career,” said Katie Bone, who competed as a Speed U18 Female athlete. “Getting to be on the international stage representing USA is always so incredible, humbling, and a great experience. I’m looking forward to continuing on in the adult circuit!” You can rewatch all of the Semi-Final and Final rounds on the IFSC YouTube channel. Looking ahead to 2025, the IFSC Youth World Championships will be hosted in Helsinki, Finland.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 YETI National Championships! The tickets, which are available through USA Climbing’s Eventbrite, include access to all climbing events for their specified date. Some dates include multiple climbing disciplines, as well as a mix of Qualification, Semi-Final, and Final events. Tickets also include access to on-site dining options, the vendor village, and the USA Climbing Store. The championships will be hosted at USA Climbing’s very own National Training Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, October 12-16. Athletes will be competing for national titles, points towards 2025 national team selection, and $20,000 worth of prizes! Athlete registration, as well as other event resources, can be found on the YETI National Championships landing page.
The YETI National Championships return for 2024 and will be hosted at USA Climbing’s very own National Training Center in Salt Lake City, UT, October 12-16. Six national champions will be crowned across the Boulder, Lead, and Speed disciplines, as the country’s best climbers also begin to earn points towards national team selection in the spring. “We’re excited to host the YETI National Championships at our own National Training Center, which is a key resource for our national team,” said John Muse, VP of Sport at USA Climbing. “Every year, the event attracts a bigger crowd and Salt Lake City will be ready to welcome the biggest yet.” Athlete registration, the preliminary schedule, and spectator tickets will all become available on Wednesday, August 28. The latest resources can be found on the YETI National Championships landing page.
Today, Le Bourget welcomed Sport Climbing’s last medal event of Paris 2024: Women’s Boulder & Lead: Final. Among the eight (8) Finalists was Team USA’s Brooke Raboutou, who finished 3rd in the Semifinal. Raboutou found herself at the top of Boulder 1 in four (4) attempts, holding the swing for 24.7 of the 25.0 possible points. That boulder saw tops from all but two (2) competitors. Moving along to Boulder 2, Raboutou slid across slippery volumes to find the feet, and earned herself another top, again alongside five (5) other competitors. Boulder 3 was the first to really separate the field, notably shutting down Great Britain’s Erin McNeice and France’s Oriane Bertone, who both had near perfect scores up until that point, before they could reach the 5 hold. Raboutou, however, powered through the steepest terrain of the round, reaching the 5, the 10, and then the top shortly after. The only other tops on that boulder came from Japan’s Ai Mori and Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret. Boulder 4 was the most difficult of the round, and not a single competitor reached the top. Raboutou matched Garnbret’s score of 9.8 points. In total, the Boulder round gave Raboutou 84.0 points and a 2nd place ranking. That put her just 0.4 points behind Garnbret, but 24.3 points ahead of the next competitor, Australia’s Oceania Mackenzie, as she shifted her focus to Lead. The Lead route quickly returned a wide range of scores, with Korea’s Seo Chaehyun earning 76.1 points, Great Britain’s Erin McNeice earning 68.1 points, and Australia’s Oceania Mackenzie earning 45.1 points. At the time Raboutou stepped onto the stage, Japan’s Ai Mori had the best Lead score by far, earning 96.1 points as she fell lunging for the top. Brooke earned 72.0 points in the Lead round, raising her to the top of the field while she waited for Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret to rope up. Garnbret climbed just a few moves higher, earning 84.1 points. Once points were combined, Garnbret earned 168.5 total points. Raboutou earned 156.0, winning a silver medal for Team USA. That makes Raboutou the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in Sport Climbing. When asked how it feels to share the podium with Garnbret, who is a close friend of Raboutou’s, she said, “This was just the dream. We have an incredible friendship, where we both want each other to do our best. That’s what happened today, and it feels really good to share that with somebody.” That concludes Sport Climbing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Sport Climbing will return for the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028. You can watch Sport Climbing on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
Colin Duffy and seven (7) other competitors from the Semifinal rounds returned to the stage in Le Bourget today for the Men’s Boulder & Lead: Final, where this week’s electric crowd was waiting for another dramatic day of competition. Duffy jumped and swung to the top of Boulder 1 in seven (7) attempts – that boulder saw tops from most of the competition, but stumped three (3). Boulder 2 tested the field’s footwork, as they made delicate steps along the slab. Duffy matched most of his competitors’ performances, reaching the 10 hold but failing to top. That boulder saw only one (1) top, from Japan’s Anraku Sorato. The top hold of Boulder 3 spit climbers off the wall time and time again, including Duffy, and Great Britain’s Toby Roberts was the only competitor to reach the top. Meanwhile, Duffy’s coordination skills stood up to the test as he claimed the only top on Boulder 4. In total, the Boulder round gave Duffy 68.3 points and a 2nd place ranking as he prepared for Lead. Duffy was second to climb in Lead, following Hamish McArthur’s (GBR) 72.0 points. Duffy looked calm on the route, seemingly shaking out one hand while only swinging from the other shortly before the 60 hold. That gave him a Combined total of 136.4 points, but he’d have to wait until the next six (6) competitors’ scores were finalized to determine his ranking. Of course, three (3) of those were mathematically incapable of meeting Duffy’s Combined score, even if they were to receive the full 100 points in Lead, so Duffy’s fate was truly in the hands of Austria’s Jakob Schubert, Great Britain’s Toby Roberts, and Japan’s Anraku Sorato. Schubert earned an impressive 96.0 points in Lead, while Roberts earned 92.1 points and Anraku earned 76.1 points. Once scores were combined, that landed Roberts in 1st, Anraku in 2nd, and Schubert in 3rd, with Duffy missing the podium by just 3.2 points. Duffy finished 4th overall in the Men’s Boulder & Lead discipline. “I’m very proud of how far I’ve come since Tokyo,” said Duffy after the round. “It’s just the start.” Tomorrow, August 10, Team USA’s Brooke Raboutou returns to the stage for the Women’s Boulder & Lead: Final. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
The fourth day of climbing at Paris 2024 brought more opportunities for advancement and medals. The Women’s Combined: Semifinal (Lead) welcomed back Team USA’s Natalia Grossman and Brooke Raboutou, while the Men’s Speed: Final welcomed back Team USA’s Sam Watson. Raboutou Advances to Women’s Combined Finals The 20 Women’s Combined climbers who competed in the Boulder round on Tuesday (where Grossman and Raboutou finished 5th and 3rd, respectively) returned to complete their scores in the Lead round. Grossman earned 39.1 points in the Lead round, giving her a Combined total of 108.3. Unfortunately, that gave her a ranking of 11th place, just a few spaces outside of Finals. Raboutou earned 72.1 points in the Lead round, for a Combined total of 155.8 and a 3rd place ranking, advancing her to the Women’s Combined: Final on August 10. Looking forward to Saturday, Raboutou said, “I just want to go out there and give everything I have, be present in the moment and determined, and no holding back.” Watson Wins Bronze, Sets Another World Record for USA in Men’s Speed Today offered another chance for medals in Sport Climbing, this time for the eight (8) Men’s Speed finalists. Team USA’s Sam Watson had the crowd’s full attention after setting a world record (4.75) in the Qualification round on Tuesday and telling the world, “the job’s not finished.” In the quarterfinal, Watson was paired with New Zealand’s Julian David. Watson finished in 5.03 seconds, beating David’s time of 5.65 seconds. That sent Watson to the semifinal, racing against China’s Wu Peng. Watson lost that race by a mere 0.08 seconds, taking him out of the big final, but sending him to the small final against Iran’s Reza Alipour Shenazandifard. There, he won the race and made history again, setting another world record 0.01 seconds faster than his last. With just 4.74 seconds on the clock, Watson secured a bronze medal, Team USA’s first Sport Climbing medal at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. “I’m very happy to be on this stage, and I have no regrets,” said Watson after the performance. “To be an Olympic medallist, to hold it in my hand with a piece of the Eiffel Tower in it – nobody can ever take that away from me.” Tomorrow, August 9, Team USA’s Colin Duffy returns to the stage for the Men’s Combined: Final. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
The third day of climbing at Paris 2024 brought back three of Team USA’s Sport Climbers for the Men’s Combined: Semifinal (Lead) and Women’s Speed: Final. The stakes were the highest they’ve been yet, with tickets to Finals on the line for the men and the first Sport Climbing medals of Paris 2024 on the line for the women. Duffy Advances to Men’s Combined Finals All 20 of the Men’s Combined climbers returned to the stage for Lead, having locked in their Boulder scores on Monday. Representing Team USA were Jesse Grupper and Colin Duffy, who ranked 18th and 11th in the Boulder round and were both excited for Lead to begin. Grupper scored 12.0 points in the Lead round, halted just past the 10 hold. That second section of the route, between the 10 and the 30, is where eight (8) other climbers also fell from the wall. That gave Grupper a combined total of 30.9 points, ranking him 18th and eliminating him from the field. Meanwhile, Duffy moved fairly quickly and efficiently through much of the terrain, passing the final holds for many of his competitors. Duffy fell shortly before the 60 hold, on the steepest portion of the wall. He ultimately scored a combined total of 87.9 points, ranking him 7th in the field and securing his spot at Finals. Looking forward to Friday, Duffy told us, “I’m gonna go out there, show them my best, and just enjoy the moment.” Hunt Finishes 5th in Women’s Speed The first Final event of Sport Climbing welcomed eight (8) Women’s Speed athletes back to the stage. Team USA’s Emma Hunt was paired with Indonesia’s Rajiah Sallsabillah for Quarterfinal 3. A close race to start, a slip cost her the race and eliminated her from the field, awarding a 5th place ranking overall. Leaving the stage, Hunt stopped time and time again to cheer on competitors who were still climbing and exchange hugs with athletes who had also been eliminated. Speaking briefly on the round, Hunt said, “I’m super grateful. I’ve had a great support team with me from USA Climbing, my family and my friends, and my personal coach, so it’s been just an amazing experience.” Hunt will surely be remembered for her Pan American Record in the Qualification Round, but also for her poise after a difficult and emotional competition day. Tomorrow, August 8, Team USA’s Natalia Grossman, Brooke Raboutou, and Sam Watson return to the stage for the Women’s Combined: Semifinal (Lead) and Men’s Speed: Final. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
Climbing continued today at the Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue, this time hosting Women’s Combined: Semifinal (Boulder) and Men’s Speed: Qualification. Four (4) athletes took to the stage to represent Team USA for another packed stadium. Grossman and Raboutou Finish 5th and 3rd in Women’s Combined: Semifinal (Boulder) 20 women representing 13 National Olympic Committees competed in the Boulder round, including Natalia Grossman and Brooke Raboutou. It was Grossman’s first Olympic appearance and Raboutou’s second, having competed alongside Colin Duffy in Tokyo three years ago. Grossman climbed further than most of her competition on Boulder 1, but was ultimately stopped at the 10 hold. After that, Boulder 2 went perfectly for her – she was one of just two (2) athletes (the other being Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret) to flash Boulder 2, reaching the top hold on her very first attempt. Grossman went on to reach another 10 hold on Boulder 3 and another top hold on Boulder 4, finishing 5th in the round. Raboutou made a strong impression, becoming one of only four (4) athletes to top Boulder 1. She then topped Boulder 2 in just two (2) attempts. Things finally slowed down for her on Boulder 3, where she reached the 10 hold. She found her 3rd top hold of the round on Boulder 4, showcasing her comfort on powerful and technical boulders alike and finishing 3rd in the round. “That definitely lit the fire in me and I’m really excited for more,” said Raboutou after the round. Watson Advances and Sets World Record in Men’s Speed: Qualification, Hammer Eliminated 14 men from 11 National Olympic Committees raced in the Speed Qualification, including Zach Hammer and Sam Watson for Team USA. Just as the women did one day before, the men began with a seeding heat, establishing ranking based on fastest times. The previous Olympic record (5.45) was broken time and time again, with Watson briefly holding the Olympic record (4.91), but it eventually settled with Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo (4.79), only beating Watson’s world record by mere thousandths of a second. Hammer’s fastest time in the seeding heat was his first (6.05). While his second race had a fantastic start, a slip landed him in almost the same position (6.06) as the first race. Those times resulted in Watson and Hammer being paired for the elimination heat, one Team USA climber versus the other. That’s where Watson made history, reaching the buzzer in just 4.75 seconds, a new world record. Hammer lost the race and was ultimately eliminated, but hugged and congratulated Watson once they reached the ground. Speaking after the round, Waston told us, “I want to be the best athlete, I want to keep pushing the limits. That’s always the person I’ve been and that’s always the person I’ll be in this sport.” Tomorrow, August 7, Team USA’s Colin Duffy, Jesse Grupper, and Emma Hunt return to the stage for Men’s Combined: Semifinal (Lead) and Women’s Speed: Final. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
The first day of Sport Climbing competition kicked off this morning at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The venue in Le Bourget welcomed an energetic crowd of roughly 6,000 spectators for two rounds of Sport Climbing: Men’s Combined: Semifinal (Boulder) and Women’s Speed: Qualification. Duffy and Grupper Finish 11th and 18th in Men’s Combined: Semifinal (Boulder) Among the 20 men representing 15 National Olympic Committees in the Boulder round were Colin Duffy and Jesse Grupper. Duffy stepped into the Olympic Field of Play for the second time, following his participation in Tokyo three years ago, while Grupper made his Olympic debut. It proved to be a tough round, with only six of the 20 athletes topping a boulder (which awards up to 25 points). Duffy reached the 10 hold on three (3) boulders and the 5 hold on one (1) boulder, earning him 33.8 points after deductions for attempts. That landed him in 11th place. Meanwhile, Grupper reached the 10 hold on one (1) boulder and the 5 hold on two (2) boulders, earning him 18.9 points. That landed him in 18th place. Both men expressed frustration after the Boulder round, but also excitement and optimism for the Lead round, which they consider their specialty. The Men’s Combined: Semifinal (Lead) will take place on Wednesday, August 7 – scores from Boulder and Lead will be combined to determine the eight (8) climbers that advance to finals. Hunt Advances and Sets Pan American Record, Kelly Sets “PR PR” in Women’s Speed: Qualification Stepping up to the plate below the 15-meter speed wall were 14 women representing 9 National Olympic Committees. The athletes began with a seeding heat, establishing ranking based on fastest times. Records fell, with Emma Hunt briefly setting a new Olympic Record of 6.36 seconds, only to have Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw beat it with a new World Record of 6.06 seconds. Hunt still had plenty to celebrate during the seeding heat – 6.36 seconds is a new Pan American Women’s Speed record and her personal best at an international competition. Meanwhile, Piper Kelly had her own breakthrough. During her first race in the seeding heat, she hit the buzzer at 7.39 seconds. That’s what Kelly calls a PR PR, a “post rupture personal record,” which is something she’s been chasing ever since rupturing a pulley in her finger a few months ago. Moving to the elimination heat, Hunt found herself racing France’s Manon Lebon, but finished with a time of 6.38 seconds, beating Lebon’s time of 7.07 seconds. After the race, the two turned to the crowd and held hands, celebrating the moment. Hunt’s win secured her spot at the quarterfinals, which will happen on Wednesday, August 7. Kelly raced against Indonesia’s Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi, but a slip cost her that race, ultimately eliminating her from the round. Tomorrow, August 6, the Games will welcome Team USA’s Natalia Grossman, Brooke Raboutou, Zach Hammer, and Sam Watson to the stage for Women’s Combined: Semifinal (Boulder) and Men’s Speed: Qualification. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
All eight of Team USA’s Sport Climbing athletes arrived in Barcelona this past weekend for a pre-Games training camp. Hosted at Sharma Climbing Gavà, the camp offers the US athletes a dedicated training space, a team of carefully selected routesetters, and an opportunity to focus in with USA Climbing’s high performance staff before returning to Paris. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) “It’s been a new and exciting experience to have all the athletes (Boulder & Lead and Speed) training together at the same time,” said Natalia Grossman (Women’s Boulder & Lead). “Everyone at Sharma Climbing has also been very welcoming and accommodating and I’m grateful for their support!” Camaraderie was front and center, as the team trained alongside Chris Sharma, legendary climber and founder of Sharma Climbing, Alberto Ginés López, who won a gold medal at Tokyo 2020 and will represent Spain at Paris 2024, Leslie Romero, who will also represent Spain at Paris 2024, and Erik Noya, who represents Spain’s national team. Colin Duffy, Natalia Grossman, Jesse Grupper, Zach Hammer, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly, Brooke Raboutou, and Sam Watson will all continue their training in Paris later this week. Sport Climbing saw its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. This year, Sport Climbing returns to the Olympics with twice as many medal events, including Boulder & Lead (Combined) and Speed. Competition is happening from August 5-10, with eight climbers representing Team USA. You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com.
The Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 is happening on Friday, July 26. For the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games, the Opening Ceremony will not take place in a stadium, but instead on the Seine. More than 10,500 athletes will float along the city’s river in boats, including Colin Duffy, Jesse Grupper, Zach Hammer, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly, Brooke Raboutou, and Sam Watson. Jesse Grupper, Sam Watson, Colin Duffy, Piper Kelly, Zach Hammer, Emma Hunt and Brooke Raboutou try on clothes at the Team USA Welcome Experience ahead of Paris 2024 (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for USOPC) “Being alongside the best athletes in the world to float along the Seine will definitely be something to remember,” said Zach Hammer, who will be representing Team USA for his first Olympic Games. “I hope everyone will tune in to see it!” How To Watch You can watch the Opening Ceremony, as well as all Sport Climbing competition days, on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Friday, July 26: Live coverage of the Opening Ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Ceremony is expected to last over three hours. Visit NBCOlympics.com/FAQ for more information on watching the Paris Olympics, including links to download the NBC, NBC Olympics, and Peacock apps. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024, where Sport Climbing will make its second Olympic appearance, are right around the corner. Team USA is sending a full team of climbers, with two athletes per gender per discipline: Combined (Boulder & Lead) and Speed. Find streaming info and the current schedule below so you can cheer on our climbers from home. How To Watch You can watch Sport Climbing live (or on-demand at any time after the events) on TeamUSA.com, the NBC Olympics app, and Peacock. Up-to-date schedules, as well as live results, will be available on Olympics.com. Monday, August 5: Men’s Boulder & Lead semi-final, Boulder round; Women’s Speed qualification Tuesday, August 6: Women’s Boulder & Lead semi-final, Boulder round; Men’s Speed qualification Wednesday, August 7: Men’s Boulder & Lead semi-final, Lead round; Women’s Speed final Thursday, August 8: Women’s Boulder & Lead semi-final, Lead round; Men’s Speed final Friday, August 9: Men’s Boulder & Lead finals Saturday, August 10: Women’s Boulder & Lead finals Visit NBCOlympics.com/FAQ for more information on watching the Paris Olympics, including links to download the NBC, NBC Olympics, and Peacock apps. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates.
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 are happening from July 26–August 11, with Sport Climbing making its second Olympic appearance from August 5–10. Team USA is the only team to fill all quota places in Sport Climbing, with eight athletes competing across two medal events, Boulder & Lead and Speed. Here are the Team USA climbers you can expect to see on the world’s biggest stage… Colin Duffy Discipline: Men’s Boulder & Lead Hometown: Broomfield, CO Personal: Began climbing at age 5. Passionate about rescuing animals and has rescued both a dog, Lucky, and a cat, Sparky. Hobbies include solving puzzles and Rubik’s cubes. Recent Career Highlights: Was the youngest member of the USA Climbing team at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Finished 4th (Men’s Boulder) at the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024. Follow Colin on Instagram Natalia Grossman Discipline: Women’s Boulder & Lead Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT Personal: Began climbing at the age of six. Graduated from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2022. Wants to be a therapist after finishing her climbing career. Recent Career Highlights: Won a gold medal (Women’s Boulder) at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2024. Won a gold medal (Women’s Boulder & Lead) at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Follow Natalia on Instagram Jesse Grupper Discipline: Men’s Boulder & Lead Hometown: Upper Montclair, NJ Personal: Started climbing at the age of six. Graduated from Tufts University with a degree in mechanical engineering. Hobbies include playing banjo and “collecting” outdoor climbing adventures from across the globe, including South Africa and France. Recent Career Highlights: Won a gold medal (Men’s Boulder & Lead) at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Won a silver medal (Men’s Lead) at the IFSC World Cup Koper 2023. Follow Jesse on Instagram Zach Hammer Discipline: Men’s Speed Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI Personal: Started climbing at the age of three. Hobbies include slacklining, kendama, and frisbee. Favorite athlete is Noah Lyles. Recent Career Highlights: Finished 6th (Men’s Speed) at the Olympic Qualifier Series 2024. Finished 5th (Men’s Speed) at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2024. Follow Zach on Instagram Emma Hunt Discipline: Women’s Speed Hometown: Woodstock, GA Personal: Began climbing at the age of five. Majoring in Spanish, Modern Languages and looking into pursuing a degree in Healthcare Sciences at Kennesaw University. Recent Career Highlights: Currently holds the Women’s Speed American and Pan American Records: 6.30 seconds and 6.41 seconds, respectively. Won a gold medal (Women’s Speed) at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2024. Follow Emma on Instagram Piper Kelly Discipline: Women’s Speed Hometown: Indianapolis, IN Personal: Graduated from Xavier University in 2023 with a degree in Exercise Science, and minor in Psychology and Spanish. Recent Career Highlights: Won a gold medal (Women’s Speed) at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Finished 6th (Women’s Speed) at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2024. Follow Piper on Instagram Brooke Raboutou Discipline: Women’s Boulder & Lead Hometown: Boulder, CO Personal: Began climbing at the age of one. Daughter of former climbing World Cup climbing champions Robyn Erbesfield-Raboutou and Didier Raboutou. Older brother, Shawn, is also a successful competitive and outdoor climber. Recent Career Highlights: First U.S. climber ever to qualify for an Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020). Won a gold medal (Women’s Boulder & Lead) at the Olympic Qualifier Series 2024. Won a silver medal (Women’s Boulder & Lead) at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Follow Brooke on Instagram Sam Watson Discipline: Men’s Speed Hometown: Southlake, TX Personal: Began climbing at the age of five. Hobbies include playing chess and playing Mario Kart. Favorite athlete is Manu Ginobili. Recent Career Highlights: Currently holds the Men’s Speed World Record: 4.79 seconds. Won a gold medal (Men’s Speed) at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City 2024. Won a silver medal (Men’s Speed) at the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2024. Won a gold medal (Men’s Speed) at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023. Follow Sam on Instagram Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
The Youth National Championships return for 2025 and will be hosted at Portland Rock Gym Beaverton in Portland, Oregon. Twenty-four national champions will be crowned as young athletes compete in Boulder, Lead/TR, and Speed. “Portland Rock Gym is thrilled to announce our partnership with USA Climbing to host the 2025 Youth National Championships! Both parties are committed to putting on a world-class event for America’s youth competitors in addition to all the coaches, volunteers, and spectators,” said Brendan Rall, Vice President of Portland Rock Gym. “All three disciplines will be held under one roof at our new 65,000 sq. ft. Beaverton facility.” “Portland Rock Gym’s new Beaverton location is the perfect fit for our 2025 Youth National Championships,” said John Muse, VP of Sport at USA Climbing. “Among other great terrain, the facility includes EP’s Titan Boulder, an exact replica of the Olympic Bouldering Wall for Paris 2024, which is sure to inspire young athletes for years to come!” Event dates, as well as other competition resources, will be added to the Youth National Championships landing page as they become available.
This past weekend, 14 climbers represented Team USA in Chamonix, France for the IFSC Climbing World Cup. Among those were three Paris-qualified athletes, Colin Duffy, Jesse Grupper, and Sam Watson, who are just weeks away from competing on the biggest stage in sports. The World Cup featured the Lead and Speed disciplines, with five USA Climbing athletes competing in Lead and eight USA Climbing athletes competing in Speed. Duffy Takes Gold in Lead World Cup In Lead, Colin Duffy earned his second World Cup Gold Medal in the discipline. “It’s a perfect way to cap off my last competition before the Olympics,” said Duffy after the win. “I’ve been training hard all year. To see I’m in the form I want to be is phenomenal and I’m going to stay here in France and train before Paris. I want to show my best there.” Also representing Team USA in the Lead discipline were Adriene Akiko Clark, Melina Costanza, Jesse Grupper, Hugo Hoyer, and Annie Sanders. Full Results for the IFSC World Cup Chamonix 2024 can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IFSC (@ifsclimbing) Watson Takes Gold in Speed World Cup In Speed, Sam Watson earned his third World Cup Gold Medal, also logging 4.88-, 4.83-, and 4.84-second runs in Finals, just barely slower than the 4.79-second World Record that he set earlier this year at the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2024. “I feel great,” said Watson. “I kind of had a Chamonix curse where I didn’t do well for the past two years, but then to come back in my last event before the Olympics and get a win, my third win, in front of all these people that came out was just one of the best experiences as a climber. Also representing Team USA in the Speed discipline were Noah Bratschi, Sophia Curcio, Aidan Goddard, Ben Jennings, Ethan Freudenheim, Isis Rothfork, and Rafe Stokes. Full Results for the IFSC World Cup Chamonix 2024 can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by IFSC (@ifsclimbing) You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Chamonix 2024 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Sport Climbing returns to the Olympic Games, August 5-10, 2024. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Salt Lake City, Utah (July 11, 2024) – Kodiak, renowned for its high-protein, whole grain breakfast products, today announced it is now the official Breakfast and Bars Sponsor of USA Climbing. With products packed with ingredients that Feed Epic Days and Wilder Lives, Kodiak will support these world-class athletes by fueling them for every epic adventure. With missions that align perfectly, Kodiak will work together with USA Climbing in its efforts to support the well-being, development, and competitive excellence of athletes, as it advances the accessibility and growth of the climbing community nationwide. “It is such an honor to be an official sponsor of USA Climbing,” said Cory Bayers, CMO of Kodiak. “Epic comes in so many different forms and these athletes truly embody the Kodiak mantra. As a partner, we’re thrilled to be a part of fueling greatness and giving these incredible men and women what they need to conquer their wildest days.” Through the sponsorship, Kodiak will have the exclusive opportunity to support athletes of all ages by providing premium, delicious breakfasts and snacks at events across the country, as well as through the USA Climbing National Training Center’s new Kodiak Pantry. “We’re very excited to be partnering with Kodiak Cakes as we prepare for our biggest competition yet,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “This new partnership comes at a perfect time for the USA Climbing team as we know Kodiak will fuel our athletes with nutritious food options and set them up for success as they take on their next challenge.” In addition to the sponsorship, Kodiak has signed soon-to-be Olympian Natalia Grossman to its roster of elite athletes, as she prepares to make her Olympic debut at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In 2021, Natalia won the gold medal for Bouldering in her second World Cup, as well as in the Bouldering World Championships, becoming the first American woman to capture the world title since 1995. “I’m thrilled to be joining Kodiak’s roster that features so many other incredible and talented athletes,” said Natalia Grossman, USA Climbing Olympic-qualified athlete. “Kodiak’s products are protein-packed and 100% whole grain, ensuring I’m fueled up for every climb. I’m so excited to be taking this next step with a brand that closely aligns with my values and love for the great outdoors and epic adventures.” Kodiak’s extensive roster of athletes also features several other renowned female climbers, including Emily Harrington, the first woman to successfully free climb El Capitan in 2020 and Quinn Mason who took first place in the 2021 US National Lead Climbing competition. In addition to climbers, Kodiak partners with trail runners, track stars and cyclists who work hard to conquer their respective frontiers and leave the world better than they found it. In addition to their renowned roster, Kodiak also has several well-respected athlete investors including Travis Kelce, CC Sabathia, Joe Burrow and Dak Prescott. To learn more about Kodiak, visit KodiakCakes.com, or follow the brand on social @kodiakcakes. 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 Kodiak On a mission to “Feed Epic Days and Wilder Lives,” Kodiak inspires people to live wilder, wide-open lives by feeding epic days through real breakfasts. Mountain raised among the Wasatch Mountains of Park City, UT, Kodiak strives to make breakfast un-boring – outfitting everyone who is hungry to get out and expand the day’s range with delicious, filling, whole grain greatness while nourishing the land, lives and wildlife that sustain us. For forty years Kodiak has crafted breakfasts with no GMOs, preservatives, or anything artificial with great taste and honest ingredients. For more information about Kodiak, please visit www.kodiakcakes.com or follow the adventure on Instagram @KodiakCakes.
The 2024 Youth National Championships kick off this weekend in Salt Lake City and will welcome more than 800 competitors to USA Climbing’s National Training Center. Twenty-four national champions will be crowned as young athletes compete in bouldering, lead, and speed over the eight-day competition. How To Watch If you’d like to see the action in-person, spectator tickets are available here. You can also watch all rounds of the 2024 Youth National Championships live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. An up-to-date schedule, as well as live results, are available on the Youth Nationals landing page. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Some of the world’s best climbers are recovering after a week in Innsbruck, Austria, which just hosted the second IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup, third Boulder World Cup, and second Lead World Cup of the year. For the Paraclimbing World Cup, 26 athletes represented the USA. In Boulder and Lead, 11 total athletes represented the USA, with 8 competing in the Boulder discipline and 10 competing in the Lead discipline. 11 Athletes Podium at Paraclimbing World Cup Brian Zarzuela (Silver, Men’s AU2) Eleanor Rubin (Bronze, Women’s AU2) Tanner Cislaw (Bronze, Men’s AL1) Ethan Zilz (Gold, Men’s AL2) Morgan Loomis (Silver, Women’s AL2) Emeline Lakrout (Silver, Women’s B1) Seneida Biendarra (Silver, Women’s B2) Linn Poston (Gold, Women’s B3) Ben Mayforth (Silver, Men’s RP2) Brayden Butler (Bronze, Men’s RP2) Nat Vorel (Gold, Women’s RP3) Full Results for the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup Innsbruck 2024 can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) Sanders Takes Bronze in Boulder World Cup In the Boulder discipline, Annie Sanders stood atop a World Cup podium for the first time, securing a bronze medal for the USA. Sanders also finished 6th in the Lead discipline. Meanwhile, Colin Duffy just narrowly missed the podium, finishing 4th in the Lead discipline. Full Results for the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024 can be found here. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Innsbruck 2024 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. The next stop on the World Cup circuit is Chamonix, France, welcoming Lead and Speed July 12-14, 2024. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Salt Lake City, UT. – June 26, 2024 – Intermountain Health is the new official health partner of USA Climbing and will provide USA Climbing athletes of all ages medical support services, athletic training services, and health education. “As we approach our second Olympic Games, there’s no better time to add a health partner as accomplished as Intermountain Health,” said Marc Norman, chief executive officer of USA Climbing. “With this new partnership, Intermountain Health will elevate the support and resources that our athletes receive throughout the year.” With the partnership, Intermountain Health will work closely with USA Climbing to provide specialized healthcare services tailored to the needs of climbers, including sports medicine, physical therapy, nutrition counseling and mental health support. The goal is to ensure that USA Climbing athletes have access to medical resources and expertise they need to excel, while staying healthy and injury-free. “We’re proud to partner with USA Climbing. Their focus on training and elevating the athletes of today and tomorrow is admirable. This partnership represents a great collaboration in promoting health and wellness for some of the best climbers in the world, as well as providing a healthcare connection for the climbers of the future,” said Heather Wall, president of Intermountain LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City. Last month, Intermountain was ranked the top large health system in the nation for 2024 by Fortune magazine and PINC AI, as a part of their annual evaluation and rankings of the nation’s best health systems for 2024. This is Intermountain Health’s second consecutive year on the prestigious list – and the first time the health system has been being ranked number one, which illustrates that high quality care that USA team members will receive. “Climbing is a challenging and exhilarating sport, which also requires a high level of physical fitness and mental focus,” added Wall. “We’re committed to providing the necessary healthcare services to help USA Climbing athletes reach their full potential and stay healthy throughout training and competition.” USA Climbing team members will being working with Intermountain Health’s team of experts at national-level events this summer. 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 Intermountain Health Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.
The second IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup of the year kicked off this week in Innsbruck, Austria. Representing the USA are 26 athletes across 19 categories. Of those, 16 athletes are competing in Innsbruck for the first time, while the other 10 are returning to one of the most popular World Cup destinations among seasoned competitors. How To Watch You can watch the IFSC Paraclimbing World Cup Innsbruck 2024 Finals round live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel, starting on Tuesday, June 25. View this post on Instagram A post shared by USA Climbing (@usaclimbing) Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Brooke Raboutou took first place at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest, following her win in Shanghai and alongside qualification for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Raboutou already mathematically qualified for Paris after claiming the highest scores in both the Boulder and Lead phases of the Semi-Final. In the crowd, spectators could be heard asking each other, “Do you think she’ll try to win? She’s already qualified.” Brooke quickly made her intentions clear, topping 3 of the 4 problems with ease in the Boulder phase and claiming the second-highest score, behind only Nonaka Miho of Japan. Moving right along to the Lead phase, the women fought through steep terrain, with Laura Rogora of Italy guarding the top score of 76.0 points for most of the round. As the last competitor to take the stage, Raboutou matched that score, securing her win. Speaking about the Final round, Raboutou said, “It was exciting, it was hard. Yesterday was a very hard bouldering round which left us very tired. We had a lot of adrenaline today, but that was the cherry on top. I’m excited and I’m happy with my climbing.” USA Climbing National Team Head Coach Josh Larson added, “(Winning) after already knowing you’re going to the Games takes a different mindset. I’m proud of her.” Raboutou is the 8th and final US climber to officially qualify for Paris, making the US the only team to fill all quota places in Sport Climbing. Full results from the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest can be found here, while global standings can be found here. You can rewatch all the rounds of the Olympic Qualifier Series on Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices. Sport Climbing will make its second Olympic appearance from August 5-10, 2024 at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. In case you needed another a reason to watch Sport Climbing, Raboutou says, “Climbing really has it all. It’s a very physical sport, but there are a lot of skill sets as well. But the biggest thing for me is the mental component, which I think is really exciting.” “We haven’t seen these climbs before, and solving them without ever seeing them, that needs creativity and complexity. The training that goes into that, then to perform to your best physical ability, not many sports have that. I hope people appreciate climbing for that, as well as the camaraderie and community.” Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Zach Hammer sang his favorite song as he exited the gate for Speed Finals at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest. Springing into action alongside Hryhorii Ilchyshyn of Ukraine, Hammer won his 1/8 final race with an impressive time of 5.15 seconds, securing him 7th place at the Budapest event and 6th place in the Olympic Qualifier Series as a whole. With that, Hammer joins Team USA for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the first Olympic Games to feature the Speed discipline as its own medal event. “It’s been a long journey and I’m super proud of myself,” said Hammer, with his ticket to Paris in hand. “I want to thank all my coaches and my family. They’re all here to support me and celebrate and I couldn’t do it without them. This means so much!” Hammer is the 7th US climber to officially qualify for Paris, alongside Sam Watson in Men’s Speed. Full results from the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest can be found here, while global standings can be found here. You can rewatch all the Speed rounds of the Olympic Qualifier Series on Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices. Sport Climbing will make its second Olympic appearance from August 5-10, 2024 at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
One of the most pivotal climbing competitions of the year is well underway in Budapest, Hungary. With Olympic quota places on the line, the qualification rounds saw performances from some of the best athletes in the world, temperatures exceeding 90 degrees fahrenheit, and an ecstatic crowd, all in the beautiful Ludovika Campus. Just 40 Boulder & Lead athletes are advancing to the semi-final rounds, while 32 Speed athletes are advancing to the final rounds, down from a total 160 climbers at the start of the event. Annie Sanders competes in the women’s Sport Climbing Boulder Qualification. Photo: OIS/Kieran Cleeves. Which US athletes are advancing? Brooke Raboutou | Raboutou finished 2nd in the qualification rounds, securing her spot in the top 20 that advance to the Women’s Boulder & Lead semi-final. “I am really happy actually; I think that is a good breakthrough for me. I haven’t felt the way I’ve wanted to on lead and I was able to just let loose and climb like myself,” Raboutou said about the round. Annie Sanders | Sanders finished 7th in the qualification rounds, securing her spot in the top 20 that advance to the Women’s Boulder & Lead semi-final. Reflecting on her first two days of competition, Sanders said, “I just feel relaxed, I can have fun with it. It is nice to have the pressure off, just to compete for the fun of it.” Zach Hammer | Hammer finished 9th with a time of 5.10 seconds in the qualification round, securing his spot in the top 16 that advance to the Men’s Speed final. “Both my practice laps were slips, which can be a bit hard mentally, but I reset and decompressed, went out there and did my thing,” said Hammer. “And I ran a competition personal best of 5.16 seconds for the first lap, and for the second lap I ran another competition personal best of 5.10 seconds. Which is kind of the best round you can ask for.” How Do Athletes Qualify for the Olympics? Athletes compete for a maximum of 100 points across the 2 stops (50% awarded in Shanghai and 50% awarded in Budapest). Point allocation based on ranking is explained here, and the sum of points determines who qualifies for Paris 2024. In Boulder & Lead, 10 quota places will be available for each gender, while in Speed, five (5) quota places will be available for each gender. Additionally, eight (8) universality quota places will be awarded. As a reminder, just one (1) quota place is available for US climbers in the Women’s Boulder & Lead discipline, while one (1) quota place is available in the Men’s Speed discipline. How To Watch You can watch all the action live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action.
Seven US climbers will travel to Budapest this month for the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS). The two-part festival-style series started in Shanghai last month and featured breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding, on top of sport climbing. The second and final stop of the series is happening from June 20-23 in Budapest and is the final opportunity for climbers to qualify for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Zach Hammer USA competes against Pierre Rebreyend FRA in the Men’s Sport Climbing Speed Qualification. The Olympic Qualifier Series, Shanghai, China. Photo: OIS/Jon Buckle. How Do Athletes Qualify for the Olympics? Athletes compete for a maximum of 100 points across the 2 stops (50% awarded in Shanghai and 50% awarded in Budapest). Point allocation based on ranking is explained here, and the sum of points determines who qualifies for Paris 2024. In Boulder & Lead, 10 quota places will be available for each gender, while in Speed, five (5) quota places will be available for each gender. Additionally, eight (8) universality quota places will be awarded. As a reminder, just one (1) quota spot is available for US climbers in the Women’s Boulder & Lead discipline, while one (1) quota spot is available in the Men’s Speed discipline. Women’s Boulder & Lead Athletes Brooke Raboutou | Finished 1st in Shanghai, earning her 50 points. Annie Sanders | Finished 14th in Shanghai, earning her 27 points. Kylie Cullen | Finished 31st in Shanghai, earning her 10 points. Kyra Condie | Finished 37th in Shanghai, earning her four (4) points. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brooke Raboutou (@brookeraboutou) OQS global standings for Women’s Boulder & Lead can be found here. Men’s Speed Athletes Zach Hammer | Finished 7th in Shanghai, earning him 34 points. Noah Bratschi | Finished 27th in Shanghai, earning him 14 points. John Brosler | Finished 31st in Shanghai, earning him 10 points. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Zach Hammer (@climber_zaq) OQS global standings for Men’s Speed can be found here. How To Watch You can watch all the action live on Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for mobile devices. It all starts with Boulder Qualifications on Thursday, June 20 and will continue through Sunday, June 23.
Today, LA28 became the first organizing committee to propose a new sport, Para Climbing, for potential inclusion in the 2028 Paralympic Sport Program. “It has been quite a journey, one led by amazing athletes, and an ongoing effort to see this day come to reality,” said Marc Norman, CEO and President of USA Climbing. “We’d like to thank LA28 for recognizing our athletes and look forward to a potential confirmation on June 26.” “I just cried at work,” said Mo Beck, a ten-time National Champion, two-time World Champion, and member of the USA Para Climbing National Team. At LA28, we’re thinking differently. Today, we’re proud to make history by being the first organizing committee to propose a new sport to the Paralympic program. We’re thrilled to propose Para Climbing for potential inclusion to our 2028 Paralympic Sport Program! #LA28 🦾🦿🧗🧗♀️… pic.twitter.com/Qi63rttjlu — LA28 (@LA28) June 12, 2024 In a press release, LA 2028 Chief Athlete Officer Janet Evans said, “We see this as a unique chance to give more athletes the ability to compete on the world’s biggest stage, while creating an expansive and elite adaptive sport program that exemplifies LA28’s commitment to elevating the Paralympic Movement.” “It’s a wonderful recognition of the value of our great athletes,” added Marco Scolaris, President of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. “We must wait now for the International Paralympic Committee’s Governing Board to vote on the proposal on June 26.” The LA28 Paralympic Games will take place August 15-27, 2028. The latest information and updates about the Games can be found at LA28.org.