Champions Watson, Miroslaw, Anraku, and Seo make a comeback with victories in the dual competition of Climbing World Cup speed and lead climbing events
In the picturesque town of Chamonix, France, the IFSC Climbing World Cup saw a series of thrilling victories last week. The event, a year-long competition including lead climbing, speed climbing, and bouldering, brought together the world's top climbers.
Sorato Anraku, a 18-year-old Japanese climber, clinched the men's lead competition, marking his second win of the season. Anraku's previous victory was in the bouldering series. His triumph in Chamonix was a testament to his versatility and consistent performance.
In the women's lead competition, Annie Sanders from the USA finished a close second, while Aleksandra Miroslaw, a 31-year-old Polish climber, clinched the gold. Miroslaw's win was her first gold of the season and a significant milestone, having been consistently among the medals in speed climbing competitions this year. Interestingly, Miroslaw won her first-ever IFSC World Cup gold at the same venue eight years ago.
The men's speed competition was a nail-biting affair, with Sam Watson from the USA edging out Rishat Khaibullin from Kazakhstan by a mere 0.22 seconds. Watson's win was his second of the season, with his previous victory being in Bali in May. Khaibullin's second-place finish was noteworthy, as it marked his first podium appearance in the speed discipline.
Filip Schenk of Italy also made history, securing his first-ever World Cup medal with bronze in the men's lead competition. Meanwhile, Desak Dewi from Indonesia finished second in the women's speed competition, with a time of 6.46 seconds. Emma Hunt, a 22-year-old American climber, finished third.
Seo Chaehyun, a 21-year-old South Korean climber, added another lead climbing gold to her season tally in Chamonix. Erin McNeice of Great Britain continued her impressive lead climbing campaign with another medal in the women's lead competition. Alberto Ginés López from Spain finished second in the men's lead competition.
For those who missed the action, the IFSC World Cup can be watched online or on TV. The IFSC YouTube channel offers live streams of the semi-finals and finals for Boulder and Lead competitions, with geo-restrictions applied for certain countries. Speed qualifications and finals are also live-streamed with geo-restrictions only on finals. Discovery+ is available for viewers in Europe, offering live streams of the events.
In other regions, coverage is provided by Globo (Brazil), Bilibili (China), CCTV (China - Speed competitions), and TV Azteca (Mexico). For those traveling or unable to access local streams, using a VPN can help watch the IFSC Climbing World Cup from anywhere.
The next IFSC World Cup event takes place on July 18 and 19 in Madrid, Spain, promising more exciting climbs and nail-biting competitions.
[1] IFSC, (2021), IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix 2021 - Live Streaming, Broadcast and TV, Available at: https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/46699/ifsc-climbing-world-cup-chamonix-2021-live-streaming-broadcast-and-tv [2] IFSC, (2021), How to Watch IFSC Climbing World Cup Online or on TV, Available at: https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/46700/how-to-watch-ifsc-climbing-world-cup-online-or-on-tv [2] IFSC, (2021), IFSC Climbing World Cup Chamonix 2021 - Day 5 Recap, Available at: https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/46701/ifsc-climbing-world-cup-chamonix-2021-day-5-recap
Sports enthusiasts who missed the exciting events at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Chamonix can catch up online or on TV, as various channels offer live streams and replays. The IFSC Climbing World Cup continues with the next event happening in Madrid, Spain on July 18 and 19, offering more opportunities to witness thrilling climbs and nail-biting competitions.
