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.

The 2025 National Team Trials Presented by YETI kick off this week at Mesa Rim in Austin, TX! 116 registered athletes will compete for spots on the Boulder, Lead, and Speed National Teams, with the opportunity to represent the USA at international World Cups.

For those in Austin, limited spectator tickets are available. The Semi-Finals and Finals will also stream live on Outside TV, starting at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Thursday, March 13 with Lead Semi-Finals. In the booth providing commentary will be Meagan Martin, who competed at National-and-International-level events for nearly two decades.

How To Watch (all times CDT)

Thursday, March 13
10:00 a.m. | Lead Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
6:00 p.m. | Lead Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

Friday, March 14
6:00 p.m. | Speed Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

Sunday, March 16
10:00 a.m. | Boulder Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
6:00 p.m. | Boulder Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

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.

The 2025 USA Climbing Para Climbing National Championships kick off this weekend at Pacific Pipe in Oakland, CA! 145 registered athletes will compete for National Titles and spots on the Para Climbing National Team, with the opportunity to represent the USA at international World Cups.

The Finals will stream live on Outside TV, starting at 11:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, March 2. In the booth providing commentary will be 10x Para Climbing National Champion Maureen “Mo” Beck, who has competed internationally with many of this event’s registered athletes for years.

How To Watch (all times PST)

Sunday, March 2 | Para Climbing National Championships
11:00 a.m. | Para Climbing Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

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.

Paraclimbing Series

• All athletes will be allowed to participate in non-qualifying and non-selection events in the Paraclimbing Series.
• National Team Ineligible athletes will not be allowed to participate in Paraclimbing 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, 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:

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.

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 Para Climbing 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 Para Climbing 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 Para Climbing 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 Para Climbing 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 Para Climbing 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.”

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

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“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.

“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.