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Climbing at the 2024 Paris Olympics: How It Works, Team USA Stars, and More
Chris Bumbaca
Sandy Hooper
USA TODAY
Here's what you need to know about climbing at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
**When Did Climbing Become an Olympic Sport?**
Climbing made its Olympic debut at the Tokyo 2021 Games. Before that, it was first featured at the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018. The
inclusion of climbing, along with skateboarding and surfing, aimed to attract younger audiences by adding more urban sports. Sport climbing will continue to be part of the program for the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
How Does Olympic Climbing Work?**
Olympic sport climbing is divided into three disciplines: bouldering, lead, and speed.
-Bouldering**: Athletes climb a 4.5-meter (nearly 15 feet) wall without ropes within a set time limit and with the fewest attempts.
Lead: Climbers attempt to reach the highest point on a 15-meter (nearly 50 feet) wall in a single attempt within six minutes.
Speed: Competitors race up a 15-meter wall with a five-degree incline in head-to-head elimination rounds or against the clock. The fastest climbers can complete it in under six seconds for men and seven seconds for women.
What's New for Paris 2024
This year, speed climbing will be its own separate event, whereas bouldering and lead climbing will remain combined. This change allows climbers to concentrate on their individual strengths.
Additionally, the scoring system has been updated from Tokyo: climbers can earn up to 200 points in bouldering, with points awarded for reaching various zones and holds, while lead climbers accumulate points based on the number of holds successfully grasped.
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Top Team USA Athletes for Paris 2024
Sam Watson: At 18, Watson holds the men’s speed world record with a time of 4.79 seconds. He finished 2023 ranked eighth in men’s speed and won gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago.
Natalia Grossman: The top-ranked women’s bouldering climber of 2023, Grossman also secured gold in both bouldering and lead at the Pan American Games.
Brooke Raboutou: Finishing fifth in Tokyo, Raboutou is the daughter of former climbing world champions and is fluent in French.
Top International Athletes for Paris 2024
Janja Garnbret (Slovenia): The reigning women’s gold medalist will compete in lead and bouldering.
Aleksandra Miroslav (Poland): A key contender in women’s speed climbing.
Ai Mori (Japan): A strong competitor in both bouldering and lead climbing.
- **Rahmad Adi Mulyon (Indonesia) and Veddriq Leonardo (Indonesia): Challengers to Watson in men’s speed.
-Jakob Schubert (Austria) A four-time world champion and a strong contender in men’s lead and bouldering.
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