The 2026 Youth National Championships kick off this weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah. The USA Climbing Training Center will welcome more than 800 competitors from youth climbing teams across the US. Join us in watching Boulder, Lead/Top Rope, and Speed over the eight-day competition from June 26-July 3.

How To Watch

If you’d like to see the action in-person, spectator tickets are available here. You can also watch all rounds of the 2025 Youth National Championships live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. An up-to-date schedule, as well as live results, are available on the Youth Nationals event page.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Over 350 competitors from 105 colleges across the country traveled to Georgia this past weekend for the 2026 Collegiate National Championships. Hosted at Central Rock Gym Kennesaw, the event brought together the nation’s top collegiate climbers for four days of competition across Boulder, Lead, and Speed disciplines.

The competition highlighted the continued growth of collegiate climbing, as programs from across the country came together to celebrate the sport and their school communities.

Evelyn Orton and Malachi Donahoe take home gold in the Lead category of the 2026 Collegiate National Championships.

“My mentality was nice today. I felt like I was more focused on doing my best on the route, topping the route, over any placement.” Orton said when asked about how she was feeling.

Women’s Lead (Advanced) Podium:
Evelyn Orton | Arizona State University
Olivia Ma | University of California San Diego
Marielle Horstmann | University of Vermont

Men/Open Lead (Advanced) Podium:
Malachi Donahoe | Front Range Community College
Anderson Fuhrer | University of Utah
Nathan Monte | University of Utah

Men/Open Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: 
Jiawei Xu | University of Colorado Boulder
Vanik Bright | Iowa State University
Kaden Poore | University of Utah

Women’s Top Rope (Intermediate) Podium: 
Adison Haight | Ivy Tech Community College
Brianna Saunders | North Carolina State University
McKenzie Adams | University of Central Florida

Miner Wins First Speed Collegiate National Championship 
Logan Miner from the University of Utah earned a podium finish, making him the 2026 Men’s/Open Speed Collegiate National Champion and his first time being on the podium at Collegiate National Championships.

When asked about what is next, he said “Heading to Vail, Colorado to compete in the North American Cup up there.”

Men’s Speed Podium: 
Logan Miner | University of Utah
Lucas Vales | University of Colorado Boulder
Gurvir Singh | Kennesaw State University

Patajo Wins First Speed Collegiate National Championship 

Micaela Patajo from University of California Berkeley earned her first title of 2026 Women’s Speed Collegiate National Champion this past weekend.

Women’s Speed Podium: 
Micaela Patajo | University of California Berkeley
Sonia Gutierrez | Colorado College
Mirabelle Thornton | University of Cincinnati

Rajan Patel Takes Home His First Gold Medal

When asked about how he felt on the wall Patel said “Great! I feel like my skin wasn’t too thin so I was psyched about that. I was a little hot though.”

Men/Open Boulder (Advanced) Podium: 
Rajan Patel | University of Colorado Boulder
Anderson Fuhrer | University of Utah
Erik Cmiel | Westminster College

Women’s Boulder (Advanced) Podium: 
Naomi Lahaie | Colorado College
Evelyn Orton | Arizona State University
Sabrina Levine | Johns Hopkins University

Men/Open Boulder (Intermediate) Podium:
Alexander Lucas | Iowa State University
Thomas Clark | University of Central Florida
Aiden Attarha | University of North Texas

Women’s Boulder (Intermediate) Podium: 
Adison Haight | Ivy Tech Community College
McKenzie Adams | University of Central Florida
Loren Blumenfeld | University of Florida

How To Watch

You can rewatch the final rounds of the 2026 Collegiate National Championships at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. Full results are also available on the Collegiate Nationals results page.

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

The World Climbing Para Series wrapped up last night in Salt Lake City with an exciting close to two days of competition. Athletes from around the world delivered unforgettable performances across all 19 categories, showcasing the incredible talent, strength, and energy that continue to drive Para Climbing forward.

This event gave fans a glimpse into the excitement ahead as Para Climbing now looks toward its debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.

W-B2: Biendarra Snags Silver

Team USA athlete Seneida Biendarra takes home silver, showing her consistent ability to perform under competition pressure. After the competition, Biendarra said:

“It feels so good to be in such a sea of competitors this year. We’ve had more B2 athletes than ever before, so it really feels like this season is going to kick it up a notch. I’m super stoked.” When asked what she plans to do next, she says “Honestly I’m going to come back today or later tomorrow and try the rest of the routes because they all are so good. These routes are always a treat to get to challenge yourself on.” Looking ahead to the rest of the season, Biendarra added, “I’ll be going to Innsbruck. It feels like we are warming up to have a really strong team for the US this year. Lots of great performances today and I am so stoked to see how everyone grows this season.”

W-B2 Podium:

Gold: Abigail Robinson • Jay Jackson (GBR)
Silver: Seneida Biendarra • Nathaniel Gamble (USA)
Bronze: Luisa Grube • Christof Poeppl (GER)

W-B3:  Phoebe Barkan Claims Silver in Women’s B3

Team USA athlete Phoebe Barkan takes home silver, while fellow Team USA athlete Jessica Semmel claims bronze.

W-B3 Podium:

Gold: Elsa Boutel Menard • Victor Matile (FRA)
Silver: Phoebe Barkan • Jonathan Wright (USA)
Bronze: Jessica Semmel • Alexandra Suponitsky (USA)

W-AU2: Maureen Beck Makes Her Claim, Wins Gold

Beck is back and ready for the competition season. The crowd went wild watching Maureen (Mo) Beck make her way to the top to claim gold for Team USA in Women’s AU2.

 “This is my first gold since 2017. I turn 40 this year, so I just think there’s no better time for anybody to start rock climbing!” When talking about competing at a home event, Beck said, “It makes me want to take this crowd with me for the rest of the World Cup tour. There is no team like a home team!” When asked what’s next, Beck said, “I’m going to spend the next two months training, skipping Innsbruck so I can be ready for the Asia World Cups.”

W-AU2 Podium:

Gold: Maureen Beck (USA)
Silver: Lucia Capovilla (ITA)
Bronze: Isabel Benvenuti (USA)

W-AU3: Wanying Morningstar Claims Silver

Wanying Morningstar continued her strong season, taking home silver in Women’s AU3.

W-AU3 Podium:

Gold: Oriane Ilpide (FRA)
Silver: Wanying Morningstar (USA)
Bronze: Rosalie Schaupert (GER)

W-RP1: Melissa Ruiz Takes Home Gold For Team USA

Melissa Ruiz brings home another gold medal for Team USA, climbing her way up to hold 43 to claim her victory.

“I’m feeling great. I listened to the audio from the commentators online, and all I hear is Matt Groom saying, ‘Yeah, she lost silver last year, so she really wants gold this year.’ I obviously didn’t hear him say that when I was climbing, but I’m sure I knew. But he’s right — it does feel really good to have this.”

W-RP1 Podium:

Gold: Melissa Ruiz (USA)
Silver: Eva Mol (NED)
Bronze: Charlotte Faist (GER)

W-RP2: Megan Gleason Takes Silver

Megan Gleason takes home silver in the Women’s RP2 category, with Brenda Findley claiming bronze.

W-RP2 Podium:

Gold: Jasmin Plank (AUT)
Silver: Megan Gleason (USA)
Bronze: Brenda Findley (USA)

W-RP3: Vorel Tops Final Route, Earning Silver

Nat Vorel had an incredible performance, taking a top for Women’s RP3 along with Marina Dias of Brazil. The results came down to countback, earning Vorel silver.

W-RP3 Podium:

Gold: Marina Dias (BRA)
Silver: Nat Vorel (USA)
Bronze: Lena Schoellig (GER)

M-AL1: Caleb McDonald Claims First World Climbing Podium

Caleb McDonald made an impression in his first World Climbing Para Series appearance, taking home silver for Team USA in Men’s AL1.

M-AL1 Podium:

Gold: Angelino Zeller (AUT)
Silver: Caleb McDonald (USA)
Bronze: Naohisa Hatakeyama (JPN)

M-AL2: Zilz Takes Home Silver

Ethan Zilz put up a strong fight, with his hard work paying off as he takes home silver for Team USA.

M-AL2 Podium:

Gold: Thierry Delarue (FRA)
Silver: Ethan Zilz (USA)
Bronze: David Kammerer (ITA)

M-AU2: Zarzuela Takes Home Another Gold

Brian Zarzuela once again proved his strength and power, finishing with a score of 43 to secure another gold medal in the World Climbing Para Series.

“It feels amazing. Climbing here in Salt Lake City in front of the home crowd is just an amazing feeling.” Looking ahead to Innsbruck, Zarzuela said, “Super looking forward to Innsbruck in just a month. That will be really cool — the biggest event we’ve ever had in Para Climbing — and I’m really excited to see a couple of faces that I haven’t seen in awhile.” When asked what his favorite part of the competition was this weekend, Zarzuela said, “I just love how challenging the routes have gotten. Year after year, the routes are getting harder, and it really does feel like they’re pushing the limit a little more, and it’s fun.”

M-AU2 Podium:

Gold: Brian Zarzuela (USA)
Silver: Kevin Bartke (GER)
Bronze: Eduardo Miguel Schaus (BRA)

M-AU3: Keough Claims Another Gold Medal

Mason Keough delivered once again, taking home the gold medal for Team USA. His stoke for climbing really shows, both on the competition wall, as well as outside.

“I feel pretty great about it. I think it was a pretty great competition. I was scared about my endurance because I’ve been mostly bouldering, but it was able to hold up, which I was stoked about.” “Last year was my first year competing. I’ve been an amputee for about two and a half years, so I finally healed up enough to compete last year and had a blast. It feels great to return and get a gold medal.” “Not only did I get the great home crowd, but also not being sleep deprived when I’m competing is great” When asked what’s next, Keough said “my next goal is to climb 8a and 8a outdoors this year which is V11 boulder and 5.13b sport climb.”

M-AU3 Podium:

Gold: Mason Keough (USA)
Silver: Dominic Geisseler (SUI)
Bronze: Nathan McKinley (USA)

M-RP2: Mayforth Takes Home Another Gold Medal

Ben Mayforth showed up for Team USA, putting in the work and claiming gold.

“I’m feeling pretty good right now. Had an interesting year last year. Definitely had to change up some mindsets, and I’m just really thankful that we have the coaches that we do and the people that help me stay on this path.” “It’s been eight years competing now, and I’ve definitely made some changes, but I’m super thankful that I did.” “I felt like a lot of things were different because the Paralympics are happening. Definitely everyone stepped up — coaches stepped up, competitors stepped up, and even the numbers and how hard everyone is climbing has really ramped up this year. It’s been really exciting to watch that happen.” When asked what’s next, Mayforth said, “I’m going to spend a week outside and kind of enjoy myself a little bit, hang out with friends, and relax before getting ready for Innsbruck.”

M-RP2 Podium:

Gold: Ben Mayforth (USA)
Silver: Brayden Butler (USA)
Bronze: Philipp Hrozek (AUT)

M-RP3: Gleason Works His Way To Bronze

Ian Gleason put up a strong fight, working his way to a bronze medal for Team USA.

M-RP3 Podium:

Gold: Tadashi Takano (JPN)
Silver: Jamie Barendrecht (NED)
Bronze: Ian Gleason (USA)

Full results from the World Climbing Para Series Salt Lake City 2026 can be found here. You can rewatch the Final round on World Climbing YouTube.

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

The 2026 North American Cup Series (NACS) kicked off this past weekend in Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. NACS allows for athletes from the Americas to compete at an elite level outside of the World Cup circuit. Nearly 150 athletes traveled to Reach Climbing & Fitness for the series opener, which featured both Speed and Lead disciplines.

Alexander Kovats Finishes 1st in Speed

Alexander Kovats races to the top of the Speed podium in this past weekend’s North American Cup Series in Bridgeport, PA. His fastest time from the weekend was 5.34 seconds.

When interviewed, Kovats reflected about how he was “feeling pretty good right now, it was a really good comp for me, I think everything went according to plan. Had a couple of slips but it was good” When it comes to what’s next for Kovats, he emphasized how he will be going to all of the upcoming NACS Speed competitions, next being at the GoPro Mountain Games in Vail happening from June 4-7.

Dylan Le took Silver, while Kyan Bateson followed behind with Bronze.

Men’s Speed Podium:
Alexander Kovats
Dylan Le
Kyan Bateson

Emiko Takeuchi Finishes 1st in Speed

Emiko Takeuchi worked her way to Gold, getting her fastest time of the day in Finals at 8.15 seconds.

During her interview, Takeuchi spoke about how she was surprised for her win, because of a wrist injury that occurred last season. “It’s been rough, I was out for four months straight of no climbing and I just got back into training in December. I could barely run sub 9 a week and a half ago.” When asked what’s next for Emiko, she said “I’m going to Vail. I hope to see some faster times, it’s my last chance in U-19 so last chance to make Worlds. That has been a goal of mine for the past few years is to make Worlds again.”

Aleya Morin made her way up the wall to claim Silver, and Lily Staudt right behind her for Bronze.

Women’s Speed Podium:
Emiko Takeuchi
Aleya Morin
Lily Staudt

Nathan Sato Takes Gold in Lead

Nathan Sato claimed Gold in Lead at NACS Bridgeport, putting together a strong performance and improving each round from qualifiers to finals.

During his interview, Sato spoke about his approach to the competition. “I really liked how I was able to learn from round to round and take that into finals. I was able to attack the route, rest where I needed to, and give it my all.” He also shared how he handled a difficult sequence mid-route, quickly adjusting his beta and continuing to climb with confidence. When asked what’s next, Sato said, “Next up I have the World Cup in Wujiang, China in about two weeks. I’m super excited—this was a great chance to test out my comp strategy and get back into the flow.”

Taking Silver is Sean McColl, with Logan Vanantwerp right behind with Bronze.

Men’s Lead Podium:
Nathan Sato
Sean McColl
Logan Vanantwerp

Iana Startsev Takes Gold in Lead

Iana Startsev secured Gold in Women’s Lead at NACS Bridgeport, delivering a focused and determined performance in finals.

During her interview, Startsev shared that she came into finals focused on climbing well and executing her best. She described a moment on the route where she became too pumped to clip, but stayed composed and tried to climb through the pump. “I really wanted to finish the route, but I’m very, very happy with the result.” After a recent competition in San Francisco where a slip in qualifiers kept her out of finals, Startsev emphasized that she was especially focused on precision heading into this event. When asked what’s next, she said she’ll take a couple of active rest days before resuming training in Philadelphia, then head to Quebec City for the next NACS event.

Eva Mijares snags Silver, with Ayaka Morita claiming Bronze.

Women’s Lead Podium:
Iana Startsev
Eva Mijares
Ayaka Morita

You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds of the 2026 NACS Bridgeport at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube Channel. The next NACS competition will be from May 2-3 at Délire, Ste-Foy, Québec. Check Climbing Escalade Canada for more info.

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

The 2026 North American Cup Series starts this April and will welcome elite athletes from all over the Americas. With five stops scheduled across the United States and Canada, climbers will have the opportunity to compete at an elite level and develop outside of the World Cup circuit.

Each of USA Climbing’s NACS competitions will be open to spectators, while the Semi-Final and Final rounds will stream live on the USA Climbing YouTube channel.

How To Watch

North American Cup Bridgeport, PA (Lead, Speed)

• April 25-26 at Reach Climbing and Fitness
• Spectator Tickets
• Streaming LIVE on the USA Climbing YouTube channel

North American Cup Québec, Canada (Boulder)

• May 2-3 at Délire, Ste-Foy, Québec
• Check Climbing Escalade Canada for more info

North American Cup Vail, CO (Boulder, Speed)

• June 4-7 at the GoPro Mountain Games
• Spectator Info (Free Entry)
• Streaming LIVE on the USA Climbing YouTube channel

North American Cup Edmonton, Canada (Lead, Speed)

• June 26-28, Hosted by Climbing Escalade Canada
• Check Climbing Escalade Canada for more info

North American Cup Salt Lake City, UT (Boulder, Lead, Speed)

• July 25-28 at the USA Climbing National Training Center
• Spectator Tickets (Coming Soon)
• Streaming LIVE on the USA Climbing YouTube channel

Salt Lake City will host the World Climbing Para Series (formerly the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup) from May 15–16. The event will welcome the world’s top Para Climbers, including World Champions and Paralympic hopefuls. Spectator tickets are now on sale through USA Climbing’s Eventbrite.

The competition, hosted by USA Climbing, returns to Momentum Indoor Climbing Fort Union and will serve as the opening event of the 2026 World Climbing Para Series. The series has seen rapid growth following the International Paralympic Committee’s announcement of Para Climbing’s inclusion in the Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028.

Last year, 171 athletes representing 24 countries competed in Salt Lake City, with the United States earning the overall combined team ranking and finishing with 14 medals.

“There’s definitely something special about competing in front of a home crowd. The cheers are always a little louder in Salt Lake City,” said Emily Seelenfreund, who won gold at the Para Climbing World Championships in Seoul this past fall. “I trust myself and my climbing so much more now. I know what I can do, so now it’s really about trying as hard as I can on the wall, having fun, and savoring the experience.”

Seelenfreund competes in the RP2 sport class, one of 20 classifications that group athletes based on their disability or its impact. Athletes across the B (visually impaired), AL/AU (limb deficiency), and RP (limited power or mobility) sport classes will all represent their respective federations at the event this May.

“We’re proud to welcome the world’s top Para climbers back to Salt Lake City for the World Climbing Para Series,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “This event highlights both the strength of Para climbing in the United States and the global momentum behind the sport as we approach LA28!”

Spectator tickets are available, and the event will also stream live to World Climbing’s YouTube channel.

Each year, the Utah Sports Commission, in partnership with the Governor, hosts the State of Sport Awards to celebrate Utah’s sports industry and recognize excellence at the high school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic and Paralympic levels. USA Climbing is proud to announce that Brayden Butler has been named this year’s Adaptive Male Athlete of the Year.

“In a lot of sports, the pursuit is mostly personal. You do it for yourself and your own goals. But Para Climbing feels different,” Butler told us. “Every step forward you make pushes the ceiling of what people believe is possible for an entire community. That’s what makes it so meaningful to me. It’s not just about my own performance. It’s about showing what can be done and helping move that potential farther and farther forward.”

Following a motorcycle accident as a child, Butler suffered a stroke that caused left neglect, a neurological condition that affects his left side. Since then, the 19-year-old Salt Lake City local has spent four seasons representing the United States at international Para Climbing events in the RP2 category, which is limited to athletes with neurological and physical disabilities.

Butler recently enjoyed a breakthrough competition season, achieving a flurry of firsts on the global stage. In May 2025, Butler secured his first gold at the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup in Salt Lake City. Just one month later, he won his first World Cup silver at the Para Climbing World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria. Then, in September, he became World Champion at the IFSC Para Climbing World Championships in Seoul, Korea.

Earlier this month, he took silver at USA Climbing’s Para Climbing National Championships, securing his spot on the 2026 National Team once again.

The 14th Annual State of Sport Awards will take place on April 8, celebrating the achievements of Butler and other Utah athletes.

The Boulder rounds of USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Presented by The North Face concluded last night, determining which athletes will represent the United States on the 2026 Boulder National Team.

This year’s event also introduced a new format. Rather than the traditional qualification, semi-final, and final rounds where athletes are progressively eliminated, all competitors advanced through three rounds of climbing. Athletes had three opportunities to earn strong finishes, with their rank in each round contributing to their final National Team Ranking score. A first-place finish in Round 1 counted just as much as a first-place finish in Round 3, rewarding consistency and breakthrough performances across the entire competition.

Two athletes entered the competition already preselected through their Continuously Updated World Ranking: Annie Sanders on the women’s side and Colin Duffy on the men’s side. The remaining roster positions were determined through performances across the three rounds.

Women’s Boulder National Team

Melina Costanza, Nekaia Sanders, Brooke Raboutou, and Adriene Akiko Clark secured their places on the 2026 Women’s Boulder National Team following three rounds of tightly contested climbing.

Melina Costanza opened the competition with one of the strongest performances of Round 1, finishing first after topping multiple boulders early in the round. That strong start established an early advantage in the National Team Rankings.

Contanza commented on the new format, “I think that it allowed a lot of opportunities for people to get on different styles. Everyone doing every single round was long overdue. I think it was really fun and it felt almost like a camp, which was also kind of enjoyable because we got to hang out with all our friends every round.”

Adriene Akiko Clark followed with a breakthrough Round 2 performance, winning the round with impressive consistency across the five problems. Nekaia Sanders closed the competition with the strongest finish in Round 3. Brooke Raboutou also delivered steady performances throughout the competition, finishing near the top of the standings in multiple rounds to earn her position on the roster.

Across the three rounds, the women’s field showcased both rising talent and experienced international competitors as they fought for limited team positions.

Women’s Boulder National Team:
Annie Sanders (Preselected)
Melina Costanza
Nekaia Sanders
Brooke Raboutou
Adriene Akiko Clark

Men’s/Open Boulder National Team

Auggie Chi, Hugo Hoyer, Vail Everett, and Ben Hanna earned their places on the 2026 Men’s/Open Boulder National Team following three gripping rounds of competition.

Auggie Chi delivered one of the most dominant performances of the event in Round 1, winning the round after topping multiple problems with minimal attempts. That performance immediately placed him among the leaders in the National Team Ranking standings.

Chi reflected on his performance after the event. “It honestly feels unreal considering I took a decent break from competition climbing,” said Chi. “I didn’t have many expectations coming into these events but I’m proud of my results!”

Despite being preselected, Colin Duffy responded in Round 2 with a commanding performance of his own, winning the round and reinforcing his status as one of the top competitors in the field. Hugo Hoyer performed consistently strong across all three rounds and secured his National Team position with a strong finish in Round 3. Vail Everett also maintained steady performances across the rounds, including a second-place finish in Round 1 that helped secure his National Team Ranking. Ben Hanna rounded out the team with a series of consistent climbs across the competition, remaining within the top standings throughout the three rounds.

The depth of the men’s field was on full display throughout the event as experienced international competitors and rising athletes battled across three rounds.

Men’s/Open Boulder National Team:
Colin Duffy (Preselected)
Auggie Chi
Hugo Hoyer
Vail Everett
Ben Hanna

Full results from the 2026 National Team Trials Presented by The North Face are available here. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action. You can rewatch the National Team Trials Presented by The North Face on Outside TV.

The Speed rounds of USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Presented by The North Face concluded last night, determining which athletes will represent the United States on the 2026 Speed National Team. Three athletes are preselected to the team through their Continuously Updated World Ranking: Emma Hunt on the women’s team and Samuel Watson and Zachary Hammer on the men’s team. The remaining positions were determined through performances across the three Speed rounds.

This year’s event also used a new format for Speed. In the past, athletes raced head-to-head in knockout rounds, with the climber who reached the top first advancing while the other was eliminated. At National Team Trials Presented by The North Face, however, the format for all three rounds is time-based. All athletes completed three rounds, with two races per round, and their fastest times contributed to their National Team Ranking score. Advancement was not determined by winning a race, but by recording the fastest possible time on the wall, rewarding consistency and breakthrough runs across all six attempts.

From those performances, the top athletes secured their places on the 2026 USA Climbing Speed National Team.

Women’s Speed National Team

Sophia Curcio, Isis Rothfork, Piper Kelly, and Lily Staudt earned places on the 2026 Women’s Speed National Team following three intense rounds.

Curcio continued her strong season following her victory at the 2026 YETI Climbing National Championships in Orlando just two weeks earlier. She delivered one of the most consistent performances across the competition, finishing second in both Round 1 and Round 2 before winning Round 3 with a meteoric 6.71-second run, a new personal best.

Curcio said she was most excited about her consistent performance throughout all three rounds.

“It was definitely a cherry on top to do the fast lap of the competition during the last round when I was really tired,” Curcio added.

Isis Rothfork also delivered a standout showing, winning both Round 1 and Round 2 with times in the mid-6-second range. Piper Kelly remained close behind the leaders throughout the event. A third-place finish in Round 2 and a strong second-place performance in Round 3 helped her secure a place on the team. Lily Staudt rounded out the team with steady results across the three rounds, including top three finishes in Round 1 and Round 3 that helped solidify her National Team Ranking.

Together, the group forms one of the fastest women’s speed teams the United States has fielded.

Women’s Speed National Team:
Emma Hunt (Preselected)
Sophia Curcio
Isis Rothfork
Piper Kelly
Lily Staudt

Men’s/Open Speed National Team

Michael Hom, Noah Bratschi, and Ben Jennings secured their places on the 2026 Men’s/Open Speed National Team following three rounds of intense climbing.

Ben Jennings, who won the Speed National Championship title at the 2026 YETI Climbing National Championships in Orlando two weeks earlier, opened the competition with a commanding Round 1 victory and a sharp 5.21-second run. He posted one of the top three times throughout all three rounds, securing his place on the team.

Noah Bratschi delivered one of the strongest middle-round performances of the competition, winning Round 2 with a time of 5.18 seconds before finishing second in Round 3. Those consistent results across the final two rounds boosted his National Team Ranking score and secured his spot. Michael Hom closed the competition with the fastest (and only sub-five-second) run of the entire event, winning Round 3 with a blistering 4.93-second climb. That performance helped propel him high on the National Team rankings.

Hom said he was excited about his sub-five-second run and reflected on his goals for the upcoming season:

“The goal is to try to go to as many [comps] as possible and get top 10. If I get top 10, I think I can go to the 2027 Pan American Games. And obviously that’s how you go to the Olympics.”

Across all three rounds, the men’s field showcased the growing depth of U.S. competitors as they prepare for the upcoming international season.

Men’s/Open Speed National Team:
Samuel Watson (Preselected)
Zachary Hammer (Preselected)
Michael Hom
Noah Bratschi
Ben Jennings

Full results from the 2026 National Team Trials Presented by The North Face are available here. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action. You can rewatch the National Team Trials Presented by The North Face on Outside TV.

The Lead rounds of USA Climbing’s National Team Trials Presented by The North Face concluded last night with athletes earning their places on the 2026 Lead National Team. The event has proven to be one of the most competitive in recent memory because Olympic qualification events begin in 2027, and athletes are eager to gain international experience and position themselves early in the Olympic cycle.

This year’s event also introduced a new format. Rather than the traditional qualification, semi-final, and final rounds where athletes are progressively eliminated, all competitors advanced through three rounds of climbing. Athletes had three opportunities to earn strong finishes, with their rank in each round contributing to their final National Team Ranking score. A first-place finish in Round 1 counted just as much as a first-place finish in Round 3, rewarding consistency and breakthrough performances across the entire competition.

From those performances, the top athletes secured their places on the 2026 USA Climbing Lead National Team.

Women’s Lead National Team

Brooke Raboutou, Ella Fisher, Analise Van Hoang, and Adriene Akiko Clark earned their places on the 2026 Women’s Lead National Team after three tightly contested rounds.

Raboutou and Fisher immediately set themselves apart in Round 1. Both athletes were the only climbers in the field to top both routes. Those performances gave them crucial National Team Ranking points heading into the later rounds. Raboutou continued to demonstrate control throughout the event. She reached the high point in Round 2, maintaining her lead heading into the final round. In Round 3, she once again delivered under pressure, topping the route to secure the top overall National Team Ranking score.

Raboutou reflected on returning to National Team Trials after several years of preselection through international results.

“This year was really different for me,” Raboutou said. “I’ve been preselected since 2019. It was always the plan that I was gonna take a year off and that meant starting back at zero. It started with a bit of nerves at Nationals, and I think throughout each climb and each round, I gained confidence. It’s been great to be back in the atmosphere.”

Fisher also remained a constant presence near the top of the leaderboard. After her dominant Round 1 performance, she followed with a strong Round 2 climb to hold second place before finishing Round 3 with another top, reinforcing her position among the nation’s strongest lead competitors.

Behind the leading pair, Analise Van Hoang and Adriene Akiko Clark delivered critical performances. Van Hoang climbed consistently across all three rounds, including a standout Round 1 showing where she pushed high on both routes to finish third overall in the round. Clark similarly built momentum throughout the competition, reaching the upper sections of the routes in each round and maintaining a competitive ranking across the event.

With strong results across all three rounds, the four climbers secured the highest National Team Ranking scores and earned their positions representing the United States in international lead competitions this season. That’s alongside Annie Sanders, who was already preselected due to her Continuously Updated World Ranking.

Women’s Lead National Team:
Annie Sanders (Preselected)
Brooke Raboutou
Ella Fisher
Analise Van Hoang
Adriene Akiko Clark

Men’s/Open Lead National Team

The Men’s/Open field delivered equally dramatic competition, with Colin Duffy, Jesse Grupper, Sergey Lakhno, Ross Fulkerson, and Dillon Countryman earning spots on the 2026 Lead National Team.

Jesse Grupper opened the competition with a commanding Round 1 performance, finishing first after topping one route and reaching high on the other. His strong start placed him in an excellent position within the National Team Ranking standings from the beginning.

Round 2 produced one of the most decisive moments of the event. Sergey Lakhno was the only athlete in the field to reach the top of the route, separating himself from the rest of the competitors and earning a crucial victory in the round. Colin Duffy demonstrated exceptional consistency across all three rounds. After placing second in Round 1 and again finishing near the top in Round 2, he delivered the highest point of Round 3, to secure the round win. His ability to remain competitive in every round ultimately earned him the top overall National Team Ranking score.

Duffy said the competition format and recent events helped him prepare for the international season ahead, and highlighted how the new structure rewards consistent performance across the entire competition.

“I think it’s good for selecting the best athletes,” he said. “Being rewarded for your qualification and semi-final performance is something that should be valued. This new format was really decisive in building a strong team.”

Ross Fulkerson also maintained steady performances throughout the competition, placing near the top of the standings in each round, including a strong Round 3 climb that kept him within the leading group. Dillon Countryman rounded out the team with a series of solid performances across the event, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in Round 1 and another competitive showing in Round 2 that kept him in contention for a National Team position.

With the points from all three rounds combined, the five athletes secured the highest National Team Ranking scores and earned their places on the 2026 USA Climbing Lead National Team.

Men’s/Open Lead National Team:
Colin Duffy
Jesse Grupper
Sergey Lakhno
Ross Fulkerson
Dillon Countryman

Full results from the 2026 National Team Trials Presented by The North Face are available here. Follow @usaclimbing on social media for competition updates and behind-the-scenes action. You can rewatch the National Team Trials Presented by The North Face on Outside TV.

The 2026 National Team Trials Presented by The North Face kicks off this week at Portland Rock Gym in Portland, OR!

For those interested in joining the action live, limited spectator tickets are available. The Second and Third Rounds will also stream live on Outside TV, starting at 10:00 a.m. PST on Thursday, March 5 with Lead Round 2. In the booth providing commentary will be Meagan Martin, who competed at National-and-International-level competitions for nearly two decades.

How To Watch (all times PST)

Thursday, March 5
10:00 a.m. | Lead Round 2 – LIVE on Outside TV
5:00 p.m. | Lead Round 3 – LIVE on Outside TV

Friday, March 6
6:40 p.m. | Speed Round 3 – LIVE on Outside TV

Sunday, March 8
10:00 a.m. | Boulder Round 2 – LIVE on Outside TV
6:00 p.m. | Boulder Round 3 – LIVE on Outside TV

Para Climbing National Champions were crowned at the 2026 Para Climbing National Championships, where coveted spots on USA Climbing’s 2026 National Team were also on the line. Those athletes will represent the United States internationally at World Climbing Para Series events later this year.

It marked the first National Championships since the International Paralympic Committee confirmed Para Climbing’s medal events for the Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028. With LA28 now in sight, the announcement has intensified competition across categories, as athletes eager to compete on the world’s biggest stage also look to secure National Team selection and gain critical international experience.

The Qualification rounds brought 139 of the nation’s top athletes to Momentum Climbing in Katy, Texas, with 105 advancing to the Finals. Among them were 15 of last year’s National Champions, each aiming to defend their titles.

W-B1: Lakrout Defends Her Title

Emeline Lakrout delivered another impressive performance in Katy. After a dominant win last year, she returned to post a 7-point lead, once again securing the title of National Champion.

W-B1 Podium:

Emeline Lakrout
Gina Applebee
Ashley Colburn

W-B1 2026 National Team:

Emeline Lakrout
Gina Applebee
Ashley Colburn

W-B2: Biendarra On Top Again

Seneida Biendarra, already a National and World Champion, added another gold medal to her collection with a score of 39+.

“I’m really proud of how the routesetters have made these routes more challenging for the B category, but also keep it engaging,” Biendarra said after her win. “The routes are what keep me coming back.”

W-B2 Podium:

Seneida Biendarra (Preselected)
Jessica Semmel

W-B2 2026 National Team:

Seneida Biendarra
Jessica Semmel

W-B3: Poston Defends Their Title

Linn Poston saw continued success in W-B3. After earning their first World Championships win this past fall, Poston once again reached the highest point on the Final route in Katy, successfully defending their National Championship title.

W-B3 Podium:

Linn Poston
Phoebe Barkan
Amy Mullins

W-B3 2026 National Team:

Linn Poston (Preselected)
Phoebe Barkan
Amy Mullins
Brooklelyn Kelly

W-AL1: Cook Wins Gold in Epic Tie-Breaker

The W-AL1 category delivered one of the tightest finishes of the weekend. Carlie Cook and Brittany Chadbourne both posted scores of 33+, forcing a time-based tie-breaker. Cook reached that score 35 seconds faster, allowing her to defend her National Championship title.

“Brittany and I are super close. It’s super fun to be so neck and neck,” Cook said after her win.

W-AL1 Podium:

Carlie Cook
Brittany Chadbourne

W-AL1 2026 National Team:

Carlie Cook
Brittany Chadbourne

W-AL2: Soria Reclaims Gold

After winning in 2024 and skipping last year’s event, Cail Soria returned for the gold. While much of the field fell in the same section, she established a 6-point lead to reclaim the National Championship title.

“I put in a lot of work and took a year off to really grind,” Soria said after the win. “I’m really happy it paid off. I’m looking forward to the (World Climbing Para Series) and climbing really hard outside.”

W-AL2 Podium:

Cail Soria
Emily Gray
Kira Brazinski

W-AL2 2026 National Team:

Daliya Hansen (Preselected)
Cail Soria
Kira Brazinski
Kaitlyn Truscott

W-AU2: Rubin Breaks Through, Wins Gold

Eleanor Rubin was due for a gold medal win following her bronze medal at the World Championships and silver medal at the National Championships last year. W-AU2 was another fiercely competitive category, with a number of past National Champions, including Maureen (Mo) Beck, returning to make their claim.

In the end, Rubin led the group, reaching hold 45 to secure the title.

“This is my fifth National Championships, and I’ve won four silvers.” Rubin said after her win. “I feel like it could have been anyone’s day. I climbed the best I’ve ever climbed and I’m really happy.”

W-AU2 Podium:

Eleanor Rubin
Isabel Benvenuti
Maureen Beck

W-AU2 2026 National Team:

Eleanor Rubin (Preselected)
Isabel Benvenuti
Maureen Beck
Josephine Fouts

W-AU3: Morningstar Makes Golden Debut

WanYing Morningstar quickly made a name for herself at her first National Championships, securing an immense 12-point lead to claim gold.

W-AU3 Podium:

WanYing Morningstar
Veronica Sturman
Jamie Schanbaum

W-AU3 2026 National Team:

WanYing Morningstar
Veronica Sturman
Jamie Schanbaum

W-RP1: Stewart Earns First National Title

Jackie Stewart climbed confidently to a score of 49, earning her first National Championship victory.

“I want to keep working on my skills and the mental aspect of it,” Stewart said after her win. “Hopefully, my long-term goal is LA28!”

W-RP1 Podium:

Jackie Stewart
Hannah Zook
Natalie Sullivan

W-RP1 2026 National Team:

Melissa Ruiz (Preselected)
Jackie Stewart
Hannah Zook
Natalie Sullivan

W-RP2: Seelenfreund Can’t Stop Winning

After a breakthrough 2025 season that included both National and World Championships titles, Emily Seelenfreund was the only athlete in her category to top the Final route, defending her championship in style.

“It feels really good. Winning in Seoul (World Championships) kind of took the pressure off a little bit and let me have fun on the wall,” Seelenfreund said after her win. “I climb my best when I’m having fun!”

W-RP2 Podium:

Emily Seelenfreund
Megan Gleason
Anna DeVries

W-RP2 2026 National Team:

Emily Seelenfreund (Preselected)
Megan Gleason
Anna DeVries
Beki Roberts

W-RP3: Vorel Returns for Gold

Nat Vorel, the reigning 2025 National Champion and recent World Championships silver medalist, continued their momentum with another decisive win in Katy.

“It’s about how well I climb, not how I place,” Vorel said after their win. “I want to climb the best I can–that’s the main goal.”

W-RP3 Podium:

Nat Vorel
Lindsay Purcell
Crystal Martin

W-RP3 2026 National Team:

Nat Vorel (Preselected)
Lindsay Purcell
Crystal Martin
Kaitlyn Dotson

W-Youth: Kennedy Wins in Nationals Debut

Natalie Kennedy impressed in her first Para Nationals appearance, securing a 7-point lead to claim gold.

W-Youth Podium:

Natalie Kennedy
Evangeline Crossman
Mei Krause

W-Youth 2026 National Team:

Natalie Kennedy
Evangeline Crossman
Mei Krause

W-Intermediate: O’Flanagan Breaks Tie for Gold

Laura O’Flanagan had an exciting first National Championships, matching Emyle Watkins’ score of 29+, but breaking that tie with a faster time to secure the win.

W-Intermediate Podium:

Laura O’Flanagan
Emyle Watkins
Madeleine Yy-Phelps

W-Advanced: Heaton Narrowly Secures Gold

Last year, Laura Heaton left the National Championships with a silver medal. This year, she and Jillian Kozyra both reached hold 34, but Heaton earned a plus, showing movement past the hold, and earning her the win.

W-Advanced Podium:

Laura Heaton
Jillian Kozyra
Michelle Patten

M/O-B1: Proctor Returns as National Champion

Justen Proctor returned to the National Championships and reached hold 21, one move beyond Eric Strong, to reclaim the title he last won in 2023.

“I’m just excited that the sport is continuing to grow,” Proctor said after his win. “I hate talking about myself… But I’m happy!”

M/O-B1 Podium:

Justen Proctor
Eric Strong NT
Ben Schuler

M/O-B1 2026 National Team:

Justen Proctor
Eric Strong NT
Ben Schuler

M/O-B2: Fralick Wins Gold

In his second National Championships appearance, Gordon Fralick climbed confidently to a score of 25, securing gold in his category.

M/O-B2 Podium:

Gordon Fralick

M/O-B2 2026 National Team:

Gordon Fralick

M/O-B3: Martinez Defends His Title

Andrew Martinez followed up his National Championships win last year with another gold-medal performance, climbing to 31+ to defend his title.

“I’m getting more used to the pressure and starting to feel a lot more comfortable on the wall,” Martinez said after his win. “I’m really excited to keep representing Team USA.”

M/O-B3 Podium:

Andrew Martinez
Rayaan Hassan Mohammadi
Max Gayford

M/O-B3 2026 National Team:

Andrew Martinez
Rayaan Hassan Mohammadi
Max Gayford

M/O-AL1: First-Timer McDonald Wins Gold

Caleb McDonald made his National Championships debut count, reaching the highest point on the Final route by more than 10 holds to earn his first title.

“It’s just good to be here. It’s fun to be a part of this community,” McDonald said after his win. “I’m just hoping to get outside and climb on some real rock!”

M/O-AL1 Podium:

Caleb McDonald
Jake Frank
Maurice Ewing

M/O-AL1 2026 National Team:

Caleb McDonald
Jake Frank
Maurice Ewing

M/O-AL2: Zilz Reclaims Gold

The largest category of the weekend delivered a tight battle. Ethan Zilz, Lee Shaffer, and Corey Ramos all reached hold 33, but Zilz and Shaffer earned pluses. Zilz reached that hold the fastest, reclaiming his National Championships title.

“It feels amazing. You’re constantly keeping track of the other athletes and knowing where you stand,” Zilz said after his win. “It feels great to come out on top at this one. The Paralympics are coming up so that’s obviously on my mind as well!”

M/O-AL2 Podium:

Ethan Zilz
Lee Shaffer
Corey Ramos

M/O-AL2 2026 National Team:

Corey Ramos (Preselected)
Ethan Zilz
Lee Shaffer
Corey Ramos

M/O-AU2: Zarzuela Leads Again

Brian Zarzuela once again proved dominant, finishing with a score of 42+ and a 7-point lead to secure another National Championships victory.

“The route was really amazing–the crowd was really amazing. It felt kind of surreal,” Zarzuela said after his fourth-consecutive win. “I came out here with the intention of winning and it feels really good to have accomplished that.”

M/O-AU2 Podium:

Brian Zarzuela
Chris Brelsford
Trevor Smith

M/O-AU2 2026 National Team:

Brian Zarzuela (Preselected)
Chris Brelsford
Trevor Smith
Mo Keller

M/O-AU3: Keough Wins by Seconds

Last year, Mason Keough made an impressive debut, winning gold at his first-ever National Championships. This year, he and Nathan McKinley fought for the lead, both earning a score of 44. Keough, however, did so 28 seconds faster, defending his title.

“I feel like there’s a lot stiffer competition this year,” Keough said after his win. “Not to say that last year didn’t feel good, but this one feels really good because I had to bring my a-game.”

M/O-AU3 Podium:

Mason Keough
Nathan McKinley
Tyler Brooks

M/O-AU3 2026 National Team:

Mason Keough (Preselected)
Nathan McKinley
Tyler Brooks
Benen Parlmer

M/O-RP1: Lynch Break Through

Matthew Lynch powered through the crux section that stopped much of the field, building a 9-point lead to capture gold.

“It felt so good because my feet were just… I don’t even know what they were doing,” Lynch said after his win. “Once I was able to get my left arm over that hold, I was able to breathe for a second. I was really happy.”

M/O-RP1 Podium:

Matthew Lynch
Paul Martin
Sunny Yang

M/O-RP1 2026 National Team:

Matthew Lynch
Paul Martin
Sunny Yang

M/O-RP2: Mayforth Dominates with 10-Point Lead

After narrowly missing gold last year, Ben Mayforth returned with authority. His strength through the steepest section of the route earned him a 10-point lead and the National Championships title.

“I took a lot of time to really work on myself and figure out what was happening–where I was having inconsistencies,” Mayforth said after his win. “When I was getting to the campus part, I was just like, ‘This is the fun part… Do your Ben Mayforth thing and have fun with it.’”

M/O-RP2 Podium:

Ben Mayforth
Brayden Butler
Johnny Quintana

M/O-RP2 2026 National Team:

Ben Mayforth (Preselected)
Brayden Butler
Johnny Quintana
Jeffrey Mellenthin

M/O-RP3: Gleason Defends His Title

Ian Gleason backed up last year’s dominant performance with another victory, successfully defending his National Championship title.

M/O-RP3 Podium:

Ian Gleason
Teddy Westrick
Oliver Carnazzo

M/O-RP3 2026 National Team:

Ian Gleason
Teddy Westrick
Oliver Carnazzo

M/O-Youth: Wakefield Wins with Only Top

Taiten Wakefield had the crowd screaming in Katy, securing the only top in his category and winning gold.

M/O-Youth Podium:

Taiten Wakefield
Watson Armstrong
Nicolas Previtali

M/O-Youth 2026 National Team:

Taiten Wakefield
Watson Armstrong
Nicolas Previtali

M/O-Advanced: Rooney Returns for Gold

After earning silver last year, Killian Rooney returned with a 14-point lead to claim this year’s National Championships title.

M/O-Advanced Podium:

Killian Rooney
Stephen Sattel
Dan Baker

The top 3 US citizens from each National Team Qualifying Category, plus any Para Climbing Team Pre-Selected athletes, will join the 2026 National Team, representing the United States this year at World Climbing Para Series competitions.

Full results from the 2026 Para Climbing National Championships can be found here. You can rewatch the Final round on Outside TV.

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

The 2026 Para Climbing National Championships kick off this week at Momentum Climbing in Katy, TX! With over 140 athletes registered, we’re excited to welcome back at least 15 National Champions from 2025 to this year’s Para Climbing National Championships.

For those interested in joining the action live, limited spectator tickets are available. The Finals will also stream live on Outside TV, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, March 1 with Finals.

How To Watch (all times EST)

Sunday, March 1
11:00 a.m. | Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

The 2026 YETI Climbing National Championships came to a gripping finale last night in Orlando, Florida, as Boulder National Champions were crowned before a sold-out crowd.

Of the 151 elite athletes who competed in the Boulder Qualification rounds, just 18 advanced to the Finals. That group included two Olympians (Natalia Grossman and Brooke Raboutou), three former Boulder National Champions (Melina Costanza, Vail Everett, and Natalia Grossman), and three Elite National Championships first-timers (Landers Gaydosh, Kailyn Leong, and KM Suleman).

Grossman Wins Gold in Women’s Boulder

Natalia Grossman, having claimed the final spot in the Women’s Final after appeal concluded, was first out of the gate. She spent much of the earlier rounds making careful decisions in hopes of not aggravating a shoulder injury. She partially dislocated that shoulder earlier this year and expressed uncertainty about her level of participation at the National Championships just days before they began.

Much to the crowd’s excitement, she set the tone for the round with a quick flash of the first boulder. Only one other competitor, Melina Costanza, topped that problem. Costanza, the 2024 Boulder National Champion, carried contagious excitement throughout the round, smiling after every attempt. After securing her first top, she reached the 10 hold on the second, third, and fourth boulders, more than most of the field.

Brooke Raboutou, who became the 2026 Lead National Champion just three days earlier, quickly topped the second and fourth boulders, sending the crowd into applause.

Grossman returned to flash the third and fourth boulders, looking more confident than she had all weekend. By the time she executed the technical footwork on the fourth boulder and secured the top hold, her title as National Champion was sealed.

Grossman shed tears as the crowd roared, and several friends from the Semi-Final confirmed her victory with excited nods.

Raboutou’s two tops earned her the silver medal, while Costanza claimed bronze.

“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to compete or not and I decided I was just going to show up and look at the boulders. And they were probably the most shoulder friendly boulders we’ve had all weekend,” Grossman shared after her win. “It was pretty freeing. Lots of sobbing has happened in this competition, lots of emotions.”

Women’s Boulder Podium:
Natalia Grossman
Brooke Raboutou
Melina Costanza

Hoyer Wins Gold in Men’s/Open Boulder

The Men’s/Open Final featured an exciting mix of competitors, with Auggie Chi and Landers Gaydosh both making their first Elite National Championships Final appearances, while climbers like Hugo Hoyer and Sergey Lakhno looked to return to the national podium.

Compared to the women’s round, success was measured in moves rather than tops for the men. Lakhno reached just one 10 hold across the first three boulders but secured a crucial flash on the fourth, putting him ahead of most finalists.

Cozmo Rothfork didn’t earn a top but delivered consistency, reaching the 10 hold on all four boulders. He was the only competitor to do so.

Hoyer, who was the 2023 Lead National Champion and has stood on both National Championships and National Team Trials Boulder podiums multiple times since, appeared composed throughout the round.

“I knew (the boulders) were hard because of how few people were coming back early,” Hoyer told us. “I knew that I prepared well, so if the boulders are going to be hard for me they’re probably going to be hard for a lot of people.”

Hoyer reached the 10 hold on the first two boulders, then secured one of only two tops in the round on the fourth boulder. That performance earned him the gold medal and the title of Boulder National Champion.

Rothfork took silver, while Lakhno earned bronze.

“It feels like it’s the last thing that I haven’t done. I’ve never been Boulder National Champion,” Hoyer said after his win.

Men’s Boulder Podium:
Hugo Hoyer
Cozmo Rothfork
Sergey Lakhno

Full results from the 2026 YETI National Championships 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.

Excitement swelled Friday night as the 2026 Speed National Champions were crowned. 52 of the best Speed athletes in the country made the trip to Orlando, Florida, and just 16 advanced to the Finals.

Among them were Olympian Piper Kelly and three past Speed National Champions: Merritt Ernsberger, Isis Rothfork, and Michael Hom. The Finals field also featured three Elite National Championships first-timers (Jaden Chin, Renata Podlesny, and Olivia Yandora), showcasing the rising talent in the discipline.

Jennings Wins Gold in Men’s/Open Speed

Personal bests continued to fall as the Men’s/Open Finalists consistently sprinted up the 15-meter Speed wall in just over five seconds. In the ¼ Final, Noah Bratschi posted the fastest time of the round at 5.10 seconds. He matched that time again in the ½ Final, advancing to the Big Final against Ben Jennings.

In the Big Final, Jennings delivered when it mattered most, also stopping the clock at 5.10 seconds while Bratschi slipped mid-run. The result earned Jennings the gold medal and Bratschi silver, marking Jennings’ first National Championship title.

In the Small Final, William Eaton beat Jaden Chin by just five milliseconds to claim the bronze medal.

“I’m over the moon… kind of speechless. I’m not sure it’s fully processed yet,” Jennings told us after the round. “A domestic win under my belt feels really good especially after the last World Cup season.”

Men’s Speed Podium:
Ben Jennings
Noah Bratschi
William Eaton

Curcio Wins Gold in Women’s Speed

Fierce competition continued in the Women’s Final, with races again separated by fractions of a second. In the ½ Final, Piper Kelly set the round’s fastest time at just 7.20 seconds. That was matched by Sophia Curcio, pitting the two against each other for the Big Final.

In that final race, Curcio delivered the fastest time of the night, stopping the clock at 6.95 seconds, a personal best in competition. The performance earned her the gold medal and her first National Championship title, while Kelly secured silver.

In the Small Final, Kayleigh Borek defeated Madi Walsh by just 10 milliseconds to take bronze.

“I was always a really consistent athlete, but it was hard to balance getting faster and consistent at the same time,” Curcio told us after her win. “Times just keep dropping so you really have to compete with great people out there.”

Women’s Speed Podium:
Sophia Curcio
Piper Kelly
Kayleigh Borek

Full results from the 2026 YETI National Championships 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.

Lead National Champions were crowned today at the 2026 YETI Climbing National Championships.

The Lead Qualification rounds welcomed 125 of the nation’s top athletes to High Point Climbing and Fitness in Orlando, Florida, with just 50 advancing to the Lead Semi-Finals and 10 earning spots in the Lead Finals.

This has proven to be one of the most competitive National Championships in recent memory. In part, that’s because many Olympians are no longer preselected to USA Climbing’s National Team and must now earn their spots on the 2026 roster. The Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 are also driving motivation. With Olympic qualification events beginning in 2027, athletes are eager to gain international experience and position themselves early in the Olympic cycle.

Raboutou Wins Gold in Women’s Lead

The sold-out crowd roared as some of the most recognizable names in climbing took the stage. The Women’s Final included two Olympians, Kyra Condie and Brooke Raboutou, and two Elite National Championships first-timers, KM Suleman and Evelyn Orton. That’s on top of athletes like Analise Van Hoang, who has been steadily building her medal count.

The Final route had a clear point of separation, with six of the 10 climbers falling at the exact same move while trying to cross off hold 18. Alexandra Inghilterra was the first to unlock it, standing tall for a controlled cross to hold 19 and ultimately finishing with a score of 24+. Analise Van Hoang brought a different style, “double clutching” and cutting her feet to catch holds 19 and 20 almost simultaneously, ultimately finishing with a score of 34+.

Brooke Raboutou planted her feet and gracefully crossed to hold 19, then powered through to the route’s headwall. She gave the crowd hope for the first top but ultimately fell from the final hold, finishing with a score of 46. That effort earned her the gold medal, with Van Hoang and Inghilterra claiming silver and bronze, respectively. Somewhat surprisingly, it was Raboutou’s first time winning a National Championship, despite her countless international successes.

“I tried to take the same mentality that I take into international competitions into this one,” Raboutou told us after her win. “We’re here to push ourselves, but we’re also here to have fun and bring the community together. I’m proud to be a part of it, and it was a really great event.”

Women’s Lead Podium:
Brooke Raboutou
Analise Van Hoang
Alexandra Inghilterra

Duffy Wins Gold in Men’s/Open Lead

The Men’s/Open category also welcomed a star-studded field of competitors. Olympians Nathaniel Coleman, Colin Duffy, and Jesse Grupper all stepped up for their first National Championships in years, while past National Champions like Vail Everett and Dillon Countryman fought to return to the podium.

Grupper kicked things off with an impressive performance, fighting through much of the steepest terrain and setting a high point (28) that held through two more performances. Eventually, Countryman climbed even higher, nearly clearing the steep section before falling on the move to hold 34 at the lip of the headwall, earning a score of 33+.

Duffy became the first to conquer the steep, powerful middle section and give the crowd a look at the final headwall. He moved deliberately through volumes and dual-texture macros before failing to match two small crimps (holds 47 and 48).

That performance secured Duffy the gold medal, with Countryman and Grupper claiming silver and bronze, respectively. This marks just Duffy’s second National Championship title and his first as Lead National Champion.

“It feels so good. (It was) a huge break since my last Nationals,” Duffy told us after his win. “I climbed better than I could’ve imagined this weekend, and the atmosphere was really great.”

Men’s/Open Lead Podium:
Colin Duffy
Dillon Countryman
Jesse Grupper

Full results from the 2026 YETI National Championships 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 is deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of Keith Ferguson, who led the organization from 2008 to 2012. Keith’s tenure marked a pivotal chapter in USA Climbing’s history, as the organization evolved to better support athletes on the international stage while elevating its premier events across the United States.

When Keith joined the organization, American athletes were standing on World Cup podiums, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (now World Climbing) was pushing for Olympic inclusion, and the sport was rapidly expanding its reach. Drawing on his experience at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and in professional sports, Keith elevated the production value of major events, led the development of the Unified Bouldering Series, and centralized registration for championship-level events, creating structure and consistency for athletes and their families.

Working closely with the International Federation of Sport Climbing and the Pan American Council, Keith was a staunch advocate for the sport and its athletes. Today, as climbing looks towards the Olympic and Paralympic Games Los Angeles 2028 (where Sport Climbing will feature three standalone medals and Para Climbing will make its Paralympic debut), we recognize that Keith’s efforts helped lay the foundation for that progress.

Pete Torcicollo, who served as President of USA Climbing during Keith’s tenure, recalls Keith as generous and big-hearted, with an email signature that read, “Sport Changes Lives.”

“Keith was one of the best people you could ever meet,” Torcicollo said. “His unwavering commitment to putting USA Climbing and its athletes on the international stage helped shape the trajectory of our sport in this country. The world really lost one of the good ones.”

On behalf of the entire USA Climbing community, we extend our deepest condolences to Keith’s family and loved ones.

Salt Lake City, Utah (February 10, 2026) – USA Climbing today announced a new multi-year partnership with Walltopia, naming the global leader in climbing wall design and manufacturing as the Official Climbing Wall of USA Climbing.

Through the partnership, Walltopia will support USA Climbing’s events, training environments, and athlete development, also serving as the Official Training Board Frame and Official Permanent Padding of USA Climbing. The collaboration will play a key role in preparing U.S. athletes for the highest level of competition, especially as USA Climbing plans to open a new National Training Center and send a full team of athletes to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

With decades of experience, Walltopia delivers innovative indoor and outdoor rope and boulder walls, IFSC-certified speed walls, adjustable-angle and training boards, kids climbing walls, and safety add-ons.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Walltopia as the Official Climbing Wall of USA Climbing,” said Marc Norman, President and CEO of USA Climbing. “Their expertise aligns perfectly with our mission, and will help provide the best possible terrain for our athletes. This partnership will ensure our athletes are training and competing on walls that reflect the highest international standards.”

“Walltopia is excited to see this partnership come together. Having seen how competition climbing has evolved over the years, it’s inspiring to partner with USA Climbing at such a defining moment for the sport in the U.S.,” said Adam Koberna, President of Walltopia USA. “This long-term collaboration allows us to look beyond individual events and focus on what matters most—growing the sport for all, supporting athletes, routesetters, and events, and helping define the future of competition climbing.”

The partnership underscores USA Climbing’s continued commitment to professionalizing its events and infrastructure as the organization prepares for upcoming Olympic cycles and works to grow the sport nationwide.

To learn more about Walltopia, visit walltopia.com.

The 2026 YETI National Championships kick off this week at High Point in Orlando, FL! 249 registered athletes will compete for the title of National Champion in the Boulder, Lead, and Speed categories.

For those interested in joining the action live, limited spectator tickets are available. The Semi-Finals and Finals will also stream live on Outside TV, starting at 10:00 a.m. EST on Thursday, February 12 with Lead Semi-Finals. In the booth providing commentary will be Meagan Martin, who competed at National-and-International-level competitions for nearly two decades.

How To Watch (all times EST)

Thursday, February 12
10:00 a.m. | Lead Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
6:00 p.m. | Lead Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

Friday, February 13
6:00 p.m. | Speed Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

Sunday, February 15
10:00 a.m. | Boulder Semi-Finals – LIVE on Outside TV
6:00 p.m. | Boulder Finals – LIVE on Outside TV

As Climbing looks forward to its third Olympic appearance, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board recently announced the qualification process for Boulder, Lead, and Speed athletes.

That includes clear quotas and qualification events for the 76 climbers who will eventually compete at the Long Beach Climbing Theater in 2028.

Qualification Events and Quotas

Beginning in 2027, athletes will have chances to qualify at Continental events, World Climbing Championships, and the Olympic Qualifier Series. There is also one place per gender, per discipline available for the host nation, USA, and one Universality place.

The qualification events include:

• European Games, Istanbul, Turkey, June 2027 [Dates TBD]
• Pan American Games, Lima, Peru, July 2027 [Dates TBD]
• World Climbing Championships – Brno, Czechia, August 2027
• World Climbing Africa Qualifier [Location and dates TBD]
• World Climbing Asia Qualifier [Location and dates TBD]
• World Climbing Oceania Qualifier [Location and dates TBD]
• Olympic Qualifier Series 2028 – The Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) is planned to have three events with dates and locations confirmed at a later date.

World Climbing’s qualification events in 2027 will account for roughly 50% of the LA28 quota, with a single qualification place available at each event.

After that, the OQS will allocate the remaining places: a minimum of four each for Boulder and Lead, and six for Speed.

There will be a minimum of 12 men and 12 women competing in Boulder and Lead. Speed will be restricted to 14 spots for each gender.

Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) will have a quota limit of two climbers per gender, per discipline, and the total number of athletes across the climbing competitions will never exceed 76.

Cross Qualification

If a climber qualifies in both Boulder and Lead, the number of competing athletes in one of the disciplines will increase. The spot that they gain in the two disciplines will only count as one entry (in the total quota counting of Climbing), therefore maintaining the total number of 76 athletes allocated to Climbing by the IOC.

This, however, is still restricted by the two-athlete NOC entry limit meaning no more than two climbers from the same country can compete in a discipline.

This cross qualification does not affect the Speed discipline as the Olympic rules and format are set to 14 competing athletes. Additional climbers can be accommodated in the Boulder and Lead formats, but not in Speed.

How We Got Here

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

Climbing is one of 22 qualification systems recently approved by the IOC Executive Board for LA28.

World Climbing is responsible for establishing its sports rules for participation in the Olympic Games, including qualification criteria in accordance with the Olympic Charter. Those criteria must be submitted to the IOC EB for approval.

The systems are based on the successful, well-established pathways in place for Paris 2024 and previous Olympic Games. Recommendations from the Paris 2024 debrief process – conducted with NOCs, IFs, the IOC and other stakeholders – have been applied where feasible.

The LA28 qualification systems ensure athletes have multiple opportunities to qualify, maintain continental and universal representation, and aim to minimize travel demands for athletes and teams.

USA Climbing is proud to announce the election results for its Athletes’ Commission! Ben Mayforth and Adam Payne will fill the two Para Climbing athlete positions, following voting from fellow athletes.

Both Mayforth and Payne represented the United States during the 2025 IFSC Para Climbing World Cup season and, collectively, they bring 20 years of Para Climbing competition experience.

All USA Climbing Committees and their members can be found here.

Team USA delivered a standout performance at the IFSC Pan American Cup in Armenia. 30 athletes competed over the holiday week, finishing the competition on Thanksgiving Day and earning podiums across Boulder, Lead, and Speed.

Podium Sweep in both Boulder and Lead for U.S. Women

Natalia Grossman returns to the world stage from a torn ACL and meniscus injury to win a decisive gold medal in Boulder, sharing the podium with fellow teammates Nekaia Sanders and Maya Madere.

Grossman told us that she began the competition week under pressure to perform, but now sees the “bigger picture.”

“I’m really proud of how far I’ve come since my injury. Traveling to a new country for this competition with the team was so special,” Grossman said, “and getting to compete with Nekaia, who is a good friend of mine, at our first international competition together and then finishing 1 and 2 was the cherry on top!”

The win signals Grossman’s return to top form and capped a dominant day for the U.S. women, who claimed the top six positions in Boulder. Sanders took silver with 54.4 points, rebounding from a slower semi-final with a strong finish. Madere climbed from 9th in qualification to secure bronze with 54.4 points, matching Sanders’ final score and earning third on countback. Ella Fisher and Sovarae Sanders rounded out the top five in 4th and 5th. Also representing Team USA were Analise Van Hoang in 6th and Jojo Chi in 16th.

Team USA’s momentum carried straight into the Lead event just as the temperatures cooled but humidity climbed to the week’s highest point. After a heartbreaking bottleneck in the semi-final round that dropped the first half-dozen athletes at draw 5, Olivia Ma secured her first IFSC gold after becoming the only athlete to top the semi-final route.

Behind her, Ella Fisher earned silver and Analise Van Hoang took bronze, marking another full U.S. sweep of the podium. Zoe Yi and Maya Madere closed out the round strong in sixth and seventh.

Beauchamp Takes Bronze as U.S. Men Place Three in Top Five

The U.S. men delivered a composed and competitive showing in the Boulder finals, placing three athletes in the top five.

Brenden Beauchamp led the team with a bronze medal, scoring 52.1 points after a strong semi-final and consistent performance in finals. This is his first podium finish on a world stage.

“I’m really happy with my placement, it feels good to see the work start paying off. Standing on the podium at PanAms was a great confidence boost,” said Beauchamp.

Looking ahead, Beauchamp said he hopes to make Team USA again in the next season and wishes to continue testing himself against the best in the country, and the world.

In the top five, Team USA athletes Joshua Gerhardt and Ben Hanna followed close behind in 4th and 5th.

Patajo Wins Women’s Speed; Mai and Vales Podium for U.S. Men

Micaela Patajo took gold in Women’s Speed with a winning time of 9.00 seconds in the final race; she qualified in 3rd before powering to the top of the podium on Monday. Claire Pee added another medal for Team USA, racing to bronze. Isis Rothfork placed 5th, followed by Madeleine Haferling in 6th.

This competition marks the first international competition for both Pee and Haferling, and new competition personal bests for Patajo, Pee, Rothfork, and Haferling.

On the men’s side, Taede Mai earned silver with a 7.54 in the final race, a new competition personal best, while Lucas Vales secured bronze with a blistering 5.71 in finals.

Padilla Takes Silver; Monte and Fuhrer Add Top-Six Finishes

In Men’s Lead, Cruz Padilla came in strong with a 31+ in the semi-final, just shy of the high point but enough to secure the silver medal and a place on the podium—Padilla’s first at an IFSC event.

Following closely behind in the finals round were Nathan Monte in 4th and Anderson Fuhrer in 6th.

Full results from the IFSC Pan American Cup Armenia 2025 can be found here. You can watch the semi-final and final rounds on the IFSC Pan America YouTube Channel.

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

USA Climbing is excited to share its 2024 Impact Report, a comprehensive reflection on a year marked by competitive success, community expansion across the Youth, Collegiate, Para Climbing, and Elite series, and major milestones on the road to the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“This inaugural Impact Report captures accomplishments from 2024 and is an invitation to step boldly into what we can achieve together,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “I am honored to step into this next phase with you.”

USA Climbing invites athletes, families, partners, and fans to explore the full 2024 Impact Report and join in celebrating the accomplishments and opportunities ahead.

Today marks 1,000 days until the LA28 Paralympic Games! Among the 23 Para sports featured is Para Climbing, which will make its Paralympic debut at the Long Beach Climbing Theater. Earlier this year, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirmed Para Climbing’s eight medal events that will be included at LA28:

• Visually impaired: women’s B2 and men’s B1
• Upper limb deficiency: women’s and men’s AU2
• Lower limb deficiency: women’s and men’s AL2
• Range and power: women’s and men’s RP1

These medal events bring the total athlete quota to 80 (40 men and 40 women).

In celebration of today’s milestone, the LA28 Games shared the Paralympic competition schedule, confirming both the dates and session times for Para Climbing’s events.

Para Climbing Competition Schedule

Para Climbing will span four days, from August 24–27, 2028. You can find the schedule of events by day below:

Thursday, August 24 (Event Day)

• 9:15 a.m. – 1:10 p.m. PT
• 5:45 p.m. – 7:40 p.m. PT

Friday, August 25 (Medal Event Day)

• 9:15 a.m. – 1:10 p.m. PT (Medal Session)
• 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. PT (Medal Session)

Saturday, August 26 (Medal Event Day)

• 5:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. PT (Medal Session)

Sunday, August 27 (Medal Event Day)

• 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PT (Medal Session)

It’s not yet confirmed which events will occur on which days. You can also view LA28’s full competition schedule by day or by session. Please note that the schedule is subject to change until the conclusion of the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Para Climbing’s Paralympic debut is a historic milestone for the sport, and USA Climbing will continue sharing updates as the Games approach!

Today, the LA28 Games shared the Olympic competition schedule by event, the most detailed view of the Games yet. It will be Sport Climbing’s third Olympic appearance and the first time that the three disciplines—Boulder, Lead, and Speed—will each award standalone medals. This increase in medal events brings the total athlete quota to 76 (38 women and 38 men).

 

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Sport Climbing Competition Schedule

Sport Climbing will span six days, the same length as in Paris, from July 24–29, 2028. You can find the schedule of events by day below:

Monday, July 24 (Event Day, Boulder and Speed)

• Men’s Boulder Semifinal | 09:30–11:40 PDT
• Men’s and Women’s Speed Qualification | 13:45–15:25 PDT

Tuesday, July 25 (Event Day, Boulder and Lead)

• Women’s Boulder Semifinal | 09:15–11:25 PDT
• Men’s Lead Semifinal | 18:45–20:00 PDT

Wednesday, July 26 (Medal Event Day, Speed and Lead)

• Men’s and Women’s Speed Quarterfinal, Men’s and Women’s Speed Semifinal, Men’s and Women’s Speed Final | 09:00–10:30 PDT (Medal Session)
• Women’s Lead Semifinal | 18:45–20:00 PDT

Thursday, July 27 (Medal Event Day, Boulder)

• Men’s Boulder Final | 09:00–10:55 PDT (Medal Session)

Friday, July 28 (Medal Event Day, Boulder and Lead)

• Women’s Boulder Final | 09:00–10:55 PDT (Medal Session)
• Men’s Lead Final | 13:45 – 15:00 PDT (Medal Session)

Saturday, July 29 (Medal Event Day, Lead)

• Women’s Lead Final | 09:30–10:45 PDT (Medal Session)

The LA28 Games announced earlier this year that Sport Climbing will take place at the Long Beach Climbing Theater, a temporary open-air venue constructed in the Long Beach Convention Center Lot.

You can also view LA28’s full competition schedule by day or by session. Please note that this competition schedule is subject to change until the conclusion of the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

USA Climbing is excited to announce its 2026 National Championships schedule, including five events across the Elite, Para Climbing, Collegiate, and Youth Series. Within each of those series, the country’s top climbers will battle for the title of National Champion and inclusion on the 2026 National Teams. National Team athletes receive critical funding and support to represent the United States internationally, including at IFSC World Cups and World Championships.

“We’re looking forward to sharing our biggest season yet with athletes and fans,” said Marc Norman, President & CEO of USA Climbing. “We’re grateful for the incredible support of our gym partners, who will host championship events across the country before we wrap up the season at USA Climbing’s own National Training Center in Salt Lake City.”

2026 Dates and Locations

February 11–15 | YETI Climbing National Championships
High Point Climbing and Fitness | Orlando, FL
Event Resources

February 28–March 1 | Para Climbing National Championships
Momentum Climbing | Katy, TX
Event Resources

March 4–8 | National Team Trials Presented by The North Face
Portland Rock Gym Beaverton | Portland, OR
Event Resources

May 21–24 | Collegiate National Championships
Central Rock Gym | Kennesaw, GA
Event Resources

June 26–July 3 | Youth National Championships
USA Climbing National Training Center | Salt Lake City, UT
Event Resources

Quotes

John Wiygul, President of High Point Climbing and Fitness

“We’re honored to host USA Climbing’s YETI Nationals at our brand-new facility in Orlando. This event will be an incredible opportunity to showcase our flagship gym on the national stage and put Florida on the map for competitive climbing.”

Rees Williams, General Manager of Momentum Katy

“The Para Climbing National Championships bring together the nation’s most inspiring and elite adaptive athletes to test their skill, strength, and determination on the wall. We’re honored to welcome competitors, routesetters, coaches, and fans from across the country for an unforgettable weekend of competition, community, and celebration of what’s possible in climbing. Join us as we cheer on these incredible athletes and showcase the spirit of inclusion, grit, and adventure that defines our sport!”

Gary Rall, Owner & Founder, and Brendan Rall, Vice President, Sales of Portland Rock Gym

“Portland Rock Gym is thrilled to partner with USA Climbing to bring National Team Trials to the Pacific Northwest. After hosting back-to-back Regional, Divisional, and National Youth Championships, we are proud of our proven ability to provide athletes and teams a world-class experience at our 65,000sqft Beaverton facility.”

Alex Peacher, Chief Marketing Officer of Central Rock Gym

“Central Rock Gym is thrilled to host the Collegiate National Championships! We are incredibly excited to welcome climbers from across the nation to CRG Kennesaw, and we look forward to a spectacular competition showcasing the talent and spirit of collegiate climbing. It’s going to be a fantastic event, and we can’t wait to share this experience with everyone.”

Additional information, including spectator tickets and streaming schedules will be available closer to each event.

The IFSC Para Climbing World Cup season came to a close in Laval, France over the weekend, offering a final chance at podiums for 25 nations’ best athletes. That included 16 USA Climbing athletes across nine sport classes. Some of those wrapped up their very first season of international competition, while others–like Melissa Ruiz, reigning World Champion in the women’s RP1 class–hoped to add medals to a growing collection.

In total, USA Climbing athletes won five medals in Laval: two gold, two silver, and one bronze.

AU Sport Classes

Mason Keough enjoyed a competition breakthrough, winning his first IFSC gold medal in men’s AU3. It’s Keough’s first season competing internationally, but already his third time on the podium.

Meanwhile, Eleanor Rubin won silver in women’s AU2. That’s Rubin’s sixth World Cup medal overall and third IFSC medal this year, including her bronze at the World Championships in September.

Also competing in the AU sport classes were Isabel Benvenuti (8th, women’s AU2) and Derek Kenney (10th, men’s AU3).

RP Sport Classes

Melissa Ruiz continued her winning streak with a third consecutive IFSC gold in women’s RP1. That’s her sixth IFSC gold medal overall (including World Cup wins and her World Championships win last month). Teammate Hannah Zook joined her on the podium, winning silver.

Johnny Quintana finished 4th in men’s RP2, his best result of the season, while Megan Gleason finished 4th in women’s RP2.

Also competing in the RP sport classes were Karalyn Spurr (6th, women’s RP1), Tiffany Yu (8th, women’s RP1), Adam Payne (15th, men’s RP1), Jeffrey Mellenthin (6th, men’s RP2), and Crystal Martin (9th, women’s RP3).

B Sport Classes

Emeline Lakrout earned bronze in women’s B1, her third World Cup podium.

Also competing in B sport classes were Ashley Colburn (6th, women’s B1) and Jessica Semmel (4th, women’s B3).

Understanding Sport Classes

Para Climbing competitions include up to 19 Sport Classes, which group athletes based on their disability or its impact. Sport Classes always begin with a letter: B (visually impaired), AL/AU (limb deficiency, either lower or upper), or RP (limited power or mobility).

That letter is followed by a number–1, 2, or 3–which indicates the severity of the disability. The lower the number, the higher the impairment.

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

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

Four USA Climbing athletes are returning from Fukuoka, Japan, where the IFSC debuted the Nations Grand Finale. Six nations competed in Boulder and Lead, both of which allowed greater coach interaction than a typical competition, as well as “mixed” routes and problems that men and women competed on.

In Lead, the team–Vail Everett, Declan Osgood, Paloma Slowik, and Zoe Yi–finished third in the Qualification round, punching their ticket to the Final, where they finished fourth. It was a narrow result with USA Climbing’s athletes finishing just a half point behind Israel.

In Boulder, the team finished fifth in the Qualification round, which sent them to an Elimination Heat. There, they secured six tops, including flashes from Vail Everett and Zoe Yi, as well as four zones. Moving along to the Final, the team finished with a total 89.60 points, fishing fourth overall.

“Climbing is usually such an individual sport, but this setup really brought out the team aspect,” Slowik told us after the competition. “I hope it continues to grow in the coming years because it’s a valuable way to learn how to work together.”

Full results from the IFSC Nations Grand Finale Fukuoka 2025 can be found here. You can rewatch the Boulder Elimination, Boulder Final, and Lead Final rounds on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

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

The third and final Para Climbing World Cup of the year takes place this weekend in Laval, France! 16 USA Climbing athletes will compete in the season finale, including 10 who recently competed at last month’s Para Climbing World Championships in Seoul, Korea.

How to Watch

You can watch the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Laval 2025 live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel. Coverage begins with the Para Climbing Finals on Saturday, October 25 at 12:00 p.m. MDT.

USA Climbing Athletes Who Are Competing

Isabel Benvenuti | Women’s AU2
Eleanor Rubin | Women’s AU2
Mason Keough | Men’s AU3
Derek Kenney | Men’s AU3
Emeline Lakrout | Women’s B1
Ashley Colburn | Women’s B1
Jessica Semmel | Women’s B3
Melissa Ruiz | Women’s RP1
Hannah Zook | Women’s RP1
Karalyn Spurr | Women’s RP1
Tiffany Yu | Women’s RP1
Megan Gleason | Women’s RP2
Crystal Martin | Women’s RP3
Adam Payne | Men’s RP1
Johnny Quintana | Men’s RP2
Jeffrey Mellenthin | Men’s RP2

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

Four USA Climbing athletes are traveling to Japan this week for the debut of the IFSC Nations Grand Finale Fukuoka 2025. The invitation-based event, which will include just six nations in total, will feature the Boulder and Lead disciplines. A new competition format, similar to the Boulder Mixed Team event that was tested in Salt Lake City in 2021, will encourage collaboration and strategic decision-making. According to the IFSC, “national team coaches will play an active role, working alongside athletes to develop their approach to each round.”

Additionally, one USA Climbing athlete, Deva Ramireddy, will compete at the IFSC Para Climbing Master Fukuoka 2025. The event is open to all Para Climbing sport classes and takes place at the same time as the final Para Climbing World Cup of 2025!

How to Watch

You can watch the IFSC Nations Grand Finale and Para Climbing Master Fukuoka 2025 live (or on-demand at any time after the event) on the IFSC YouTube channel. Coverage begins with the Boulder Elimination Heats on Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. MDT.

USA Climbing Athletes Who Are Competing

Vail Everett | The IFSC Nations Grand Finale will mark Everett’s 10th IFSC competition start
Declan Osgood | The IFSC Nations Grand Finale will mark Osgood’s 11th IFSC competition start
Paloma Slowik | The IFSC Nations Grand Finale will mark Slowik’s second IFSC competition start
Zoe Yi | The IFSC Nations Grand Finale will mark Yi’s eighth IFSC competition start
Deva Ramireddy | The Para Climbing Master will mark Ramireddy’s third IFSC competition start

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

USA Climbing is excited to announce its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan. The plan outlines four pillars, each with strategic initiatives and intended outcomes, to further USA Climbing’s mission:

USA Climbing supports the well-being, development, and competitive excellence of our athletes as we advance the accessibility and growth of the climbing community nationwide.

USA Climbing extends its sincere appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who contributed to the development of this Strategic Plan. This document reflects the insights and commitment of our Board of Directors, staff, Strategic Planning Task Force and other key stakeholders.

We are grateful to all who participated in surveys, listening sessions, and feedback opportunities throughout this process. Your input has been invaluable in shaping a clear, actionable plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the climbing community.

Boulder wrapped up the IFSC Climbing World Championships in Seoul, where 11 US athletes competed and Melina Costanza earned her first Elite World Championships podium.

Costanza Claims Bronze at First World Championships

Melina Costanza is a household name for climbing fans in the United States. After all, she won National Team Trials this year and the YETI National Championships for the last two years. But she has never before competed in an Elite World Championships, and she’s never made a World Cup Final, which led some of the international audience in Seoul to ask, “Where did she come from?”

Returning from an LCL injury, it’s fair to call Costanza the underdog in Seoul—she even told us that, when she made the Semi-Final, her only goal was to not finish last.

“This is above my expectations. It was a long season watching everyone else do World Cups and sitting at home being injured, but I think it motivated me,” Costanza said. “I got here and was ready to let it rip.”

Costanza absolutely did ‘let it rip,’ topping the first boulder in just two attempts, and then flashing the third boulder (she was one of only four competitors to do so). That gave her a total of 59.8 points, enough for the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, Annie Sanders stepped up to Boulder Finals just 24 hours after competing in the Lead Finals. She reached the zone on all four boulders but couldn’t secure a top, finishing with 39.3 points. That placed her 7th overall.

Also representing Team USA were Helen Gillett in 26th, Nekaia Sanders in 33rd, Kyra Condie in 39th, and Adriene Akiko Clark in 43rd.

Duffy and Hanna Both Enjoy First Boulder Semi-Final at World Championships

Colin Duffy fought through 10 attempts to top the first boulder, then quickly dispatched the second boulder, topping on his first attempt. He would go on to secure one more zone on the third boulder, finishing with 59.1 points and placing him 12th overall. Seoul was his second World Championships appearance and his first time in the Boulder Semi-Final.

Ben Hanna also made his first Boulder Semi-Final at the World Championships, an event he last appeared at in Moscow in 2021. With four zones, he earned 39.1 points and finished 22nd.

“I constantly struggle with feeling like I’m getting too old for this, but also I’m in my best shape and having my best results,” Hanna told us after the round. “I made my first IFSC Semi-Final in 2022. This is my first year making two Semi-Finals and I’m very excited to make my first Final. I wish it wasn’t such a long process, but it’s nice to keep improving and see that process through.”

Also representing Team USA were Zander Waller in 46th, Vail Everett in 47th, and Adam Shahar in 59th.

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

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

10 US athletes competed in Lead this week at the IFSC Climbing World Championships, and Annie Sanders reached a new competition milestone, achieving her best Elite World Championships finish yet.

Sanders Finishes 5th in Women’s Lead

Annie Sanders was the lone American to compete in Lead Finals, following a World Cup season full of both Lead and Boulder medals. As usual, she climbed the Final route with slow, controlled precision, surpassing three of the four previous finalists’ high points before coming up short on hold 43. Her final score of 42+ secured her that fifth place finish.

That’s quite the improvement since Sanders’ last Elite World Championships appearance in 2023, where she placed 13th in Lead (and 8th in the combined Boulder & Lead format).

“I’m not in my best shape right now, but it’s been a long season,” Sanders told us after the round, with hopes of more outdoor climbing this fall. “It’s cool to see the progress that I’ve made over these past couple of years.”

Sanders’ trip isn’t over yet though–she’s one of just three US athletes competing in both Lead and Boulder. The Women’s Boulder Semi-Final will pick up on Saturday (or late Friday for those following along in the US).

Also representing Team USA were Analise Van Hoang in 27th, Ella Fisher in 32nd, Zoe Yi in 42nd, and Adriene Akiko Clark in 48th.

Duffy Leads Men’s Team in Semi-Final

On the men’s side, Colin Duffy led the pack, competing in his first World Championships since the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Duffy tiptoed through small crimps on the Semi-Final’s headwall, before falling while reaching for hold 41, giving him a final score of 40+. That landed him in 14th overall.

Like Sanders, Duffy is also competing in Boulder. The Men’s Boulder Semi-Final will start on Sunday (or late Saturday for those following along in the US).

Also representing Team USA were Jesse Grupper in 34th, Nathan Sato in 35th, Sergey Lakhno in 42nd, and Declan Osgood in 59th.

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

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

At the IFSC Climbing World Championships this week, 10 US athletes took on the Speed field, and Zach Hammer left with his first-ever World Championships podium—and a new personal best.

Hammer Delivers Epic Season-Closer

Zach Hammer delivered the highlight of the day, racing to bronze in Men’s Speed after a lightning-fast personal best of 4.80 seconds. The result caps a breakout season for Hammer, who recently earned his first two World Cup medals—one in Denver and another in Chamonix.

“I devote every part of my life to climbing and it’s amazing to see that pay off,” Hammer said after the Final. “A bronze medal is always mixed emotions because you’re one race away (from gold or silver), but I’m very proud to come home with a medal. Any medal is such an honor.”

Also representing Team USA were Sam Watson, the current World Record holder, who placed 5th; Michael Hom in 6th; Logan Schlecht in 40th; and Merritt Ernsberger in 58th.

Rothfork Leads Women’s Team in Final

On the women’s side, Isis Rothfork enjoyed her best result of the season, finishing 9th overall and setting a personal best of 6.78 seconds. Piper Kelly joined her in the Final and secured 15th place.

Also representing Team USA were Sophie Curcio in 20th, Madi Walsh in 28th, and Emma Hunt—the newly crowned Women’s Speed World Cup Series champion—in 29th, following an uncharacteristic slip in the Qualification. Hunt’s early exit was a surprise, but she closed the season celebrating her historic overall title.

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

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

The IFSC Para Climbing World Championships concluded in Seoul, Korea today, crowning World Champions across 19 total sport classes.

Among the competitors were a staggering 50 US athletes vying for their respective podiums. Of those, 18 (more than a third) advanced to Finals and 12 won medals.

That’s three more medals than at the last Para Climbing World Championships, where US athletes earned nine.

B Sport Classes

At the last World Championships in Bern, Seneida Biendarra took silver in the women’s B2 event, but it was gold around her neck in Seoul.

Linn Poston won gold in the women’s B3 category. They have two gold medals from World Cup performances, but this marks their first World Championships appearance–and first World Championships win.

Phoebe Barkan followed closely behind Poston, taking silver in the women’s B3 category at her first World Championships.

Also competing in the B sport classes were Emeline Lakrout (4th, women’s B1), Kevin Chao (6th, men’s B2), Andrew Martinez (6th, men’s B3), Gordon Fralick (7th, men’s B3), Mandi Curtis (7th, women’s B3), and Paige Trotter (9th, women’s B3).

RP Sport Classes

Brayden Butler not only stood on the World Championships podium for the first time, but took gold in the men’s RP2 competition.

“I’m so happy I got the opportunity to come out here and show what I have been training for,” said Butler. “Yes, it’s about trying to win but it’s also about showing the para climbers and RP2 climbers can climb hard and display strength–that’s my goal.”

Melissa Ruiz won gold in the women’s RP1 event. Ruiz brings more competition experience than many of her teammates, with Seoul being her fourth World Championships and second World Championships podium, but first time winning gold. Since 2019, her World Championships placement has steadily climbed from twelfth to sixth to second to first.

In the same category, Hannah Zook won bronze, her first World Championships podium.

Emily Seelenfreund took gold in the women’s RP2 event, her first gold at any IFSC event.

“To be World Champion is surreal,” said Seelenfreund. “I want to be my best self on the wall and I feel like I was today.”

Nat Vorel won silver, their first World Championships medal, in the women’s RP3 category.

Also competing in the RP sport classes were Jackie Stewart (5th, women’s RP1), Tiffany Yu (7th, women’s RP1), Paul Martin (7th, men’s RP1), Joshua Unterman (16th, men’s RP1), Connor King (17th, men’s RP1), Ruchir Khaitan (18th, men’s RP1), Megan Gleason (4th, women’s RP2), Ben Mayforth (4th, men’s RP2), Johnny Quintana (5th, men’s RP2), Jeffrey Mellenthin (6th, men’s RP2), Mark Jourdian (12th, men’s RP3), Deva Ramireddy (14th, men’s RP3), and Lindsay Purcell (6th, women’s RP3).

AU Sport Classes

Brian Zarzuela won bronze in the men’s AU2 category, his third time on a World Championships podium.

Meanwhile, Ellie Rubin took bronze in the women’s AU2 category, marking her first World Championships podium.

Also competing in the AU sport classes were Matthew Lynch (11th, men’s AU2), Dylan Retsek (12th, men’s AU2), Isabel Benvenuti (5th, women’s AU2), Josephine Fouts (8th, women’s AU2), Elise Morley (13th, women’s AU2), Mason Keough (4th, men’s AU3), and Benen Parlmer (7th, men’s AU3).

AL Sport Classes

Corey Ramos won bronze in the men’s AL2 category, with Seoul being his first World Championships.

Daliya Hansen took bronze in the women’s AL2 category, also making her World Championships debut.

Also competing in the AL sport classes were Lee Shaffer (5th, men’s AL2), Ethan Zilz (6th, men’s AL2), Chase Christiansen (18th, men’s AL2), Morgan Loomis (8th, women’s AL2), Kaitlyn Truscott (10th, women’s AL2), Hannah McFadden (12th, women’s AL2), Tanner Cislaw (5th, AL1), Brittany Chadbourne (10th, AL1), Carlie Cook (11th, AL1), Garrison Redd (12th, AL1), Carlos Quiles (13th, AL1), and Andrea Wilson (14th, AL1).

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

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

The IFSC Speed World Cup season concluded this past weekend in Guiyang, China, offering a final set of medals and awarding this year’s series titles! Among the competitors were seven USA Climbing athletes. Sam Watson, who set the World Record earlier this season, brought the most experience, having already competed in 22 World Cups. Meanwhile, Joshua Jan enjoyed his IFSC debut.

Emma Hunt Wins Speed Series Plus Another Bronze Medal

Emma Hunt’s season has been nothing short of consistent. Since the season kicked off in April, Hunt placed 4th in Wujiang, then won gold in Denver, silver in Krakow, and bronze in Chamonix. Of course, at the final stop in Guiyang, she easily made finals, just as she did in every previous World Cup of the season, leaving Qualification in 4th place with a best time of 6.52 seconds. Her best time in Finals was 6.35 seconds, but it was her time of 6.44 seconds in the Small Final that beat China’s Yafei Zhou, winning Hunt the bronze medal.

That marks Hunt’s 10th World Cup medal—more than any other USA Climbing Speed athlete. Throughout the season, she accumulated a total of 3,795 points, making her the first US female climber to win the Speed title.

“It was a really tight race leading into Guiyang,” said Hunt. “I’m glad that I was able to hold it together for a medal and the title!”

Isis Rothfork also climbed in Finals, having finished 15th in Qualification with a time of 7.19 seconds. That’s Rothfork’s fourth Finals of the season.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round was Sophie Curcio, who finished 20th with a time of 7.64 seconds.

Zach Hammer and Sam Watson Lead Men’s Team in Finals

Zach Hammer and Sam Watson, who are no strangers to the spotlight, both made Finals in Guiyang. Hammer left Qualification in 4th place with a best time of 4.93 seconds, while Watson left Qualification in 10th place with a best time of 4.97 seconds, demonstrating just how crucial it is to go sub-5 on the road to Finals.

“For me, historically, I’ve had a history of having bad first runs and then coming back in the second, so a big goal for me this season has been to have a good first and second to help decrease the pressure,” said Hammer following that Qualification performance. “I had a 5.0 first and 4.9 second so a perfect qualification for me.”

Watson lost his first race to Germany’s Leander Carmanns, placing him 11th overall in Guiyang. That said, Watson also won three World Cup medals, set the World Record, and accumulated 3,629 points throughout the season, placing him second overall in the Speed World Cup series.

Meanwhile, Hammer won his 1/8 race with a time of 4.95 seconds, before losing the 1/4 race to Ukraine’s Yaroslav Tkach and placing him 7th overall in Guiyang.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round were Ben Jennings, who finished 33rd with a time of 5.42 seconds, and Joshua Jan, who finished 34th with a time of 5.76 seconds.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Guiyang 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Full results from Guiyang can be found here, while the IFSC’s World Cup ranking can be found here.

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

The final competition of the 2025 North American Cup Series (NACS) took place in Salt Lake City, Utah over the weekend! More than 150 athletes showed up at USA Climbing’s downtown National Training Center to compete in Lead and Speed. Among those were a number of “comeback” competitors, including Natalia Grossman (an Olympian and highly-decorated World Cup competitor who competed for the first time since receiving ACL + meniscus surgery) and Nathaniel Coleman (an Olympic silver medalist who competed in a sanctioned competition for the first time since 2023).

Rothfork and Miner Race to Gold in Speed Finals

Speed was on display again, with one competitor (Isis Rothfork) stepping up to the plate just days after getting home from The World Games in Chengdu, China. Surprisingly, Rothfork told us that the quick turnaround affected her “only in a positive way.”

Rothfork kept steady momentum throughout Finals, posting a time of 7.11 seconds in the 1/4 final, 6.95 seconds in the 1/2 final, and 6.87 seconds in the big final. That ended up being the fastest women’s time of the weekend and earned Rothfork the gold medal.

“I’m feeling pretty psyched,” said Rothfork. “It’s always hard to execute in competitions and it’s been a learning process.”

Next on Rothfork’s radar is the IFSC World Cup Guiyang 2025.

On the men’s side, Logan Miner had plenty to celebrate, setting a competition personal best (and the second-fastest men’s time of the weekend) of 5.49 seconds in the 1/2 final. He would go on to beat Jasper Zhu in the big final, posting a time of 5.78 seconds and securing the gold medal.

“I’ve wanted a National-level win for a while and it’s good to finally get it,” said Miner, who moved to Salt Lake City a little less than two weeks ago.

While pursuing a psychology degree at the University of Utah is next on Miner’s mind, he assured us that he’ll also spend the off-season “getting as fast as (he) can.”

The Speed discipline also welcomed a wave of U17 (those aged 15-16-years-old) competitors for their own Finals. That’s a new addition to this year’s North American Cup Series, and one that USA Climbing hopes will give young athletes valuable experience and development opportunities at elite competitions.

Women’s Speed Podiums: 

Isis Rothfork (Adult), Alexis Prokopuk (U17)
Isabel Piotrowski (Adult), Anabelle Supratman (U17)
Natalie Gates (Adult), Hollis Robinson (U17)

Men’s Speed Podiums: 

Logan Miner (Adult), Griffin Smith (U17)
Jasper Zhu (Adult), Khoi Tran (U17)
Thomas Lin (Adult), Anthony Wise (U17)

Grossman Back On Top, Lakhno Wins Gold Again

Fans were on the edge of their seats as the Lead rounds welcomed up-and-comers, competition legends, and a few surprises. Natalia Grossman wooed the crowd in Qualification, returning from injury, but looking totally in control and placing first. In the Semi-Final, a demanding perch over her left leg gave Grossman a bit of pause, but she would still place third, easily punching her ticket to Finals. Sergey Lakhno, who just this past spring won National Team Trials, finished first in both Qualification and Semi-Finals, while Dillon Countryman trailed just behind him for both rounds. Nathaniel Coleman had a surprising slip during the Semi-Final, costing him the spot in Finals.

Grossman looked confident going into the Women’s Final route, despite the start being a run-and-jump, which she says she hasn’t done in about seven months due to her injury. After her commitment paid off, Grossman took advantage of rests and technical footwork to match Zoe Yi’s previous high point, and then set a new one. Neither Michaela Kiersch nor Analise Van Hoang could surpass that high point, ensuring the gold medal for Grossman. Not only was that her first medal on this Lead wall, but her first time ever competing on this Lead wall, which she often trains on before World Cups.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into this competition,” said Grossman. “I’ve never felt so nervous before a Qualification route in my life. The Semi-Final was frustrating… Going into Finals, I was like, ‘I have nothing to lose.'”

Next, Grossman looks forward to competing at the YETI National Championships in February.

In the men’s field, all eyes were on Sergey Lakhno, who was aiming for first in all three rounds. Cruz Padilla had already secured the first top of the Men’s Final route, requiring that Lakhno also top to win. A slow lock-off to the final red dish secured him that top and the gold medal, his second win at a National-level event this year.

“I think this is some of the best routesetting I’ve seen at a USA Climbing competition,” said Lakhno after the round.

Sergey Lakhno will now head to the IFSC World Cup Koper 2025, followed by the IFSC World Championships Seoul 2025.

Men’s Lead Podium: 

Sergey Lakhno
Cruz Padilla
Nathan Sato

Women’s Lead Podium: 

Natalia Grossman
Zoe Yi
Analise Van Hoang

Full results can be found at usac.results.info. You can rewatch the Semi-Final and Final rounds of the 2025 North American Cup Salt Lake City at any time on the USA Climbing YouTube channel.

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

The 2025 Youth World Championships took place in Helsinki, Finland from July 28–August 3rd! There were over 800 competitors from 54 countries and territories competing at the largest climbing gym in all of Northern Europe: KiipeilyAreena Ristikko. This event exclusively featured athletes from both the U17 and U19 youth categories. Overall, two medals were awarded for the U17W category. Evie Albrecht earned her first Gold for Speed, which marks the first US Women’s Speed Gold and podium since 2023! Meanwhile, Lucy Duncan earned her first Silver for Boulder, which is also the first Boulder medal earned by a US athlete at Youth Worlds since 2023.

Boulder Podiums

U19M 
Nathaniel Perullo, who has notably never competed in an IFSC competition before, placed 24th in Semi-Finals. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Auggie Chi, who finished 27th, and Declan Osgood, who placed 31st—both of whom have previously competed in two IFSC Youth World Championships.

U19W
Carly Alba placed 12th in her first Semi-Finals at an IFSC Youth World Championship, with Alexandra Inghilterra not far behind in 16th. Inghilterra fell on the final move of W4—a coordination dyno to a slotted crimp—before topping with only 30 seconds left on the clock. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round was Naomi Lahaie, who finished 27th in her first IFSC Youth World Championship.

U17M
Landers Gaydosh competed in both Boulder and Lead at his first IFSC event, coming in fifth place with two tops and one zone. Gaydosh held first place for a notable amount of time after he expertly navigated the slow slab section of M1, at one point standing up on a miniscule foot chip. Gaydosh’s entrance into Finals made him the first US male in a Youth Worlds Boulder Finals since 2023!

Making it to Semi-Finals at his first IFSC event was Jackson Dendy in 18th with three zones. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round was Banlu Rogaway in 28th with one top and three zones.

U17W
Meini Li (CHN)
Lucy Duncan (USA)
Lou Auclair (FRA)

Lucy Duncan earned not only her first podium, but also her first Silver and medal in general at an IFSC event with three tops and one zone during Finals. This marks the first Boulder medal for a US athlete at Youth Worlds since 2023. Duncan was beaten solely by attempts, as no athlete could top every problem. Her ability to quickly move off volumes wowed the crowd, especially when she effortlessly danced across the W1 coordination move. After a heavy celebration, Duncan topped W3 with 18 seconds remaining after fighting through on her fifth attempt.

Competing in Semi-Finals was Kailyn Leong, who placed 14th place with two tops at her first IFSC event. With only five seconds left, she topped the technical and powerful W4 on her fourth attempt. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round was Evelyn Orton, who placed 30th with two tops and three zones.

Speed Podiums

U19M

Taede Mai finished the competition in 4th after a combination of hard work and good fortune when his opponent false started during their first race. From there, Mai soared past the competition, clocking his fastest time of the day at 5.94 seconds. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Lucas Vales in 16th place with a time of 5.6 seconds, and William Eaton close behind in 17th place with a time of 5.67 seconds. Vales has competed in a World Cup for Speed before, however, Helsinki is his best placement to date. For Eaton, this was his first IFSC event.

U19W
Madi Walsh was just a fraction of a second away from earning her first Bronze in the Bronze medal race. Still, she posted impressive times, with her best of the competition coming in at 7.73 seconds. Walsh has already competed in two World Cups for Speed this year, with this marking her highest placement so far. Also competing in Finals was Lily Staudt, who was also edged out by a fraction of a second with a time of 8.80 seconds. Close behind was the experienced Micaela Patajo—who has notably competed in five IFSC events since 2023—finishing with a time of 7.89 seconds in Finals.

U17W
Evie Albrecht earned not only her first Gold, but her first IFSC podium and medal as well. With a time of 6.96 seconds, Albrecht beat her opponent to Gold by only 0.03 seconds. After her win, Albrecht celebrated by nearly flipping upside down in her harness as she descended to the ground. This Gold marks both the first US women’s Speed podium and US women’s Speed Gold since 2023.

Also representing the USA in Finals was Bella Wargo, who has only competed in one other IFSC Youth World Championship before. Wargo’s fastest time was clocked at 8.00 seconds flat, with the competition ending for her during Quarter-Finals. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round was Olivia Yandora, who placed 22nd at her first IFSC event with a time of 9.6 seconds.

U17M
Representing the USA in the Qualification round were Khoi Tran, who placed 17th with a time of 7.02 seconds, followed closely by Owen Gerber in 20th with a time of 7.07 seconds. Finally, Austin Bock placed 34th after a false start. Notably, both Tran and Bock have previously competed alongside each other at the same IFSC Youth World Championships. For Gerber, this was his first IFSC event.

Lead Podiums

U19M
Bryce Nix, whose last IFSC Youth World Championship was in 2023, placed 15th in Semi-Finals. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Anderson Fuhrer, who placed 26th, and Wesley Smith, who finished 57th—both making their IFSC debuts.

U19W

Zoe Yi, who has competed at three previous IFSC Youth World Championships before, achieved her best placement just off the podium in fifth place. Throughout the competition, Yi had a few stand-out moves, including a heel-hook on an extremely small crimp in Semi-Finals before a dynamic move on her Finals route almost caused her to slip. Yi returned her feet to the wall effortlessly, a move that not many other competitors could follow. Also representing the USA in Semi-Finals was Alexandra Inghilterra, who placed 15th after pulling off an incredible high-heel-foot match. Inghilterra held the U19W high point for a notable amount of time.

U17M
Benjamin Rose-Innes placed 21st at his first Lead Semi-Final at an IFSC Youth World Championship. At one point, Rose-Innes clipped while having both his heels hooked. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Landers Gaydosh—who made it to Finals for Boulder—placing 28th, and Colden Floss, who finished 45th at his first IFSC Youth World Championship.

U17W
Evelyn Orton—who also competed in Boulder—placed 14th at her first Lead Semi-Final at an IFSC Youth World Championship after taking a large whip during an extended missed clip. Still, Orton moved slowly and technically throughout her entire route. Also representing the USA in the Qualification round were Khadija Magali (Km) Suleman in 29th place, followed by Isabelle Case in 36th place. Case got her first international start at this competition.

Full results from the IFSC Youth World Championships 2025 can be found here. You can rewatch the finals on the IFSC YouTube Channel.

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

Salt Lake City is hosting this year’s final Climbing North American Cup from August 22–24! The event will welcome many of the continent’s best competition climbers and feature the Lead and Speed disciplines. Marking the end of the 2025 North American Cup Series, which USA Climbing has co-hosted alongside Climbing Escalade Canada, the event will give athletes one final chance at the podium. It’s also an opportunity for US athletes to earn points towards National Championships eligibility.

Tickets are now on sale for the three-day spectacle, which will take place at USA Climbing’s National Training Center, while the semi-final and final rounds will also stream live to the USA Climbing YouTube channel.

Madrid, Spain, debuted its first IFSC Climbing World Cup this past weekend, featuring three Olympians among the seven US athletes who competed. This lead-only event saw more than 163 athletes from 36 countries and territories at the Recinto ferial de Alcobendas fairground nestled right in the center of a bustling community. Although July is typically the hottest month for Spain, the air was calm, allowing for an attentive crowd to fill up every inch of space within the venue during Finals. The last time an IFSC Climbing World Cup was held in Spain was back in 2011 in Barcelona—nearly 14 years ago.

Annie Sanders progressed to her fourth lead final round of the season before making history by topping both her Semi-Finals and Finals routes. Olympian Brooke Raboutou is back on the scene as well, making it to finals alongside fellow Olympian Colin Duffy.

Sanders Makes History and Raboutou Takes Bronze

Annie Sanders achieved a perfect performance as the only athlete to top both routes. By the time semi-finals began, it was night in Madrid, where Sanders gained momentum from the crowd as she neared the finish with 30 seconds on the clock. With seven seconds remaining, she clipped the anchors as the crowd cheered below after an extremely tiring route. In a strong position, Sanders faced significant pressure heading into finals. However, that pressure quickly faded after she executed a flawless two-handed dyno on her final route, signaling the top was near. As the sun set in Madrid, she hopped to the top and stayed there, visibly emotional. Every athlete before her had tried and failed the same move.

With this semi-finals and finals top, Sanders became the first US woman to win gold in both boulder and lead. When told of the achievement, Sanders didn’t know what to say.

“I’m honestly still in shock right now. I’m super excited to finally have executed well enough to win gold,” Sanders said. “After the first lead comp in China, I knew I was capable of this, and I’m glad it finally happened.”

This Gold was Sanders’ first in the Lead discipline, marking her impressive progress since the beginning of the season. Not only is this an incredible personal benchmark, but for the history of competition climbing as well. Sanders is only the fourth US woman to win a Lead Gold medal, as well as the ninth woman ever to win both Lead and Boulder Gold medals.

Olympian Brooke Raboutou finished taking bronze, rounding out the podium for the US. Although Sanders was the only athlete to top any of the routes, Raboutou had standout moves of her own that drew similar attention. During semi-finals, Raboutou chose to rest in a one-hand campus on a sloped jug, alternating between hands. In finals, she opted to move off a middle-finger pocket—a decision that shocked the crowd—before falling as she reached for the finish. Although she didn’t top, Raboutou reached the hold just before with 1 minute, 12 seconds still on the clock, showcasing her speed.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round were Adriene Akiko Clark, who finished 50th, and Quinn Mason, close behind in 52nd.

Duffy Impresses During Tight Finals Round

Olympian Colin Duffy carried momentum from his finals performance in Chamonix. In semi-finals, he looked comfortable on every move, especially when he moved powerfully from a pull to a crimp—one of the separator moves along the route. The crux stumped both Duffy and fellow Olympian Jesse Grupper, as athletes were expected to rock over an incredibly high heel—a move neither could complete, though both gave a valiant effort.

During finals, Duffy stayed consistent and decisive without hesitation, going for a double clutch dyno to an unpredictable hold he had little vision of from the ground. Despite falling earlier than he expected, Duffy stayed in the lead on the podium for almost the entire round. Eventually, however, Duffy was bumped from the podium due to time spent on the wall. He had the same score as the Bronze podium athlete.

Olympian Jesse Grupper struggled on some of the same moves as Duffy but still delivered a strong semi-finals performance. Grupper was controlled in every swing, turning dynamic movements nearly static through his core strength. He climbed quickly and smoothly throughout the route, even choosing not to fix the rope when it looped over his arm. Eventually, Grupper fell at the same spot as Duffy and missed Finals by just one positive motion point.

Also representing Team USA in the qualification round was Sergey Lakhno in 46th place.

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

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

Three years from today, the Olympic Games will kick off in Los Angeles, California. In celebration of the milestone, the LA28 Games shared the Olympic competition schedule, confirming both the dates and session times for Sport Climbing’s events.

The LA28 Games announced earlier this year that Sport Climbing will take place at the Long Beach Climbing Theater, a temporary open-air venue constructed in the Long Beach Convention Center Lot.

Sport Climbing Competition Schedule

Sport Climbing will span six days, the same length as in Paris, from July 24–29, 2028. You can find the schedule of events by day below:

Monday, July 24 (Event Day)

• 09:30–11:40 PDT
• 13:45–15:25 PDT

Tuesday, July 25 (Event Day)

• 09:15–11:25 PDT
• 18:45–20:00 PDT

Wednesday, July 26 (Medal Event Day)

• 09:00–10:30 PDT (Medal Session)
• 18:45–20:00 PDT

Thursday, July 27 (Medal Event Day)

• 09:00–10:55 PDT (Medal Session)

Friday, July 28 (Medal Event Day)

• 09:00–10:55 PDT (Medal Session) and 13:45 – 15:00 PDT (Medal Session)

Saturday, July 29 (Medal Event Day)

• 09:30–10:45 PDT (Medal Session)

While it’s not yet confirmed which events will occur on which days, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed earlier this year (via the official event programme) that Sport Climbing’s three disciplines – Boulder, Lead, and Speed – will each get standalone medals.

You can also view LA28’s full competition schedule by day or by session. Please note that this competition schedule is subject to change until the conclusion of the Los Angeles 2028 Games. LA28 will release a more detailed competition schedule later this year.