Sport Climbing saw its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games. This year, Sport Climbing returns to the Olympics with twice as many medal events, including Boulder & Lead (Combined) and Speed.
Boulder & Lead: This combined event includes two popular formats, bouldering and lead climbing. In bouldering, athletes climb 4.5 m high walls without ropes, in a limited period of time and in the fewest attempts possible. In lead climbing, athletes climb as high as they can on a wall over 15m high in six minutes without having seen the route ahead of time. The routes for this event are more and more complex and challenging during the event, requiring all of the athletes’ physical and mental ability. Scores from both formats are combined.
Speed: Speed is a race against the clock in one-on-one elimination rounds that combine precision and explosivity. The best athletes scale a 15m high and five degrees inclinated wall in under six seconds for men and under seven seconds for women.
Eight athletes (two per gender per discipline) will represent Team USA in Sport Climbing. In 2024, Team USA is the only team to fill all of its available quota places in Sport Climbing.
Athletes to Watch:
- Natalia Grossman: At 22-years-old, Natalia Grossman is currently ranked #5 in the world for the Boulder discipline, according to the International Federation of Sport Climbing. Paris 2024 will be her first Olympic Games, following recent 1st place finishes at the IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2024 and Pan American Games Santiago 2023.
- Sam Watson: At 18-years-old, Sam Watson has been called the fastest climber in the world. That’s because he holds the Men’s Speed Climbing World Record, reaching the top of the 15m wall in just 4.79 seconds at the IFSC World Cup Wujiang 2024.
- Brooke Raboutou: At 23-years-old, Brooke Raboutou is about to be a two-time Olympic Sport Climber, having been the first U.S. climber ever to qualify for the Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020). Raboutou is currently ranked #3 in the world for Boulder & Lead (Combined) and #2 in the world for Boulder, according to the International Federation of Sport Climbing.
- Emma Hunt: At 21-years-old, Emma Hunt is currently ranked #2 in the world for Speed Climbing, according to the International Federation of Sport Climbing. Paris 2024 will be her first Olympic Games, following a recent 1st place finish at the IFSC Climbing World Cup Salt Lake City 2024, as
For inquiries: Patrick Bodnar - patrick@usaclimbing.org
