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.