A timed and judged Olympic discipline combining speed wall, boulder, and lead climbing on artificial vertical surfaces.
Origin and rules
Modern sport climbing developed in 1980s France when bolted routes on limestone crags freed climbers to attempt harder moves with less risk. The IFSC was founded in 2007 and the sport debuted at Tokyo 2020 in a combined format.
How it plays
Three disciplines are contested. Speed is a head-to-head dash up a standardised 15-metre wall. Boulder asks climbers to solve short problems on a 4.5-metre wall in a set time. Lead awards points for height reached on a tall route on first ascent.
Competition
The IFSC World Cup series and World Championships are the elite events. Japan, Slovenia, Austria, France, and the United States are dominant nations. Sport climbing returns to the Olympics at Paris 2024 with separate speed and boulder-and-lead events.
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Sport Climbing starts with S and ends with G. Browse other sports along the same letter.
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