Paris Olympics A-to-Z for Climbing Industry Insiders

As our sport, community and industry anticipate climbing’s second appearance in the Summer Olympic Games—following Sport Climbing’s debut at the Tokyo Olympics—there is perhaps even more excitement and hype than last time. After all, we now have gold medallists defending their titles, and there are now two sets of medals to earn—one for Boulder & Lead, one for Speed. The decision to give Speed its own medal was warmly received, and many hope that momentum will continue and we will see Boulder and Lead split into separate medals in the future, as well. But this summer, all eyes are on Paris…

In total, 68 of the world’s best climbing athletes (34 women, 34 men) representing 22 countries and five continents are expected to compete in Paris. Countless articles on the subject have been written by climbing and non-endemic media, and we’ve curated the best of the bunch below. Without further ado, here is everything you need to know about Sport Climbing’s second appearance in the Olympic Games. (In tandem with this article, be sure to check out our media resource for climbing gyms here.)

WHEN & WHERE TO WATCH

• Live & Replays: NBC (USA), CBC (CAN), Eurosport (Europe), all other locations (PDF)
• Results: Olympics.com
• August 5: Men’s Boulder semi-final & Women’s Speed qualification
• August 6: Women’s Boulder semi-final & Men’s Speed qualification
• August 7: Men’s Lead semi-final & Women’s Speed final
• August 8: Women’s Lead semi-final & Men’s Speed final
• August 9: Men’s Boulder & Lead final
• August 10: Women’s Boulder & Lead final

ORGANIZATIONS

• International Olympic Committee
• International Federation of Sport Climbing
• USA Climbing
• Climbing Escalade Canada
• GB Climbing
• Sport Climbing Australia
• Links to other National Federations

OFFICIAL OLYMPIC EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIERS

• See photos of the venue
• Walls: EP Climbing – video: “We built the TITAN”
• Holds: Cheeta, eXpression, Flathold, Squadra
• Macros: 360, Cheeta, Flathold, Rockcity
• Volumes: Blocz, Cheeta, Squadra
• Auto Belay: Perfect Descent
• New Olympic Uniforms Unveiled in Brooklyn (USAC)
• Paris 2024 Olympic Sport Climbing Walls Unveiled (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
• This is the Bouldering Wall for the Paris Olympics (Gripped)

OLYMPIC SUPPORT STAFF

• IF Delegate: Piero Rebaudengo (ITA)
• IF Delegate: Hazel Han (KOR)
• IFSC Event Delegate: Stanley Yeo (SGP)
• IFSC Jury President: Tim Hatch (GBR)
• IFSC Judge: Karalyn Aronow (USA)
• IFSC Judge: Nelson Lam (NZL)
• IFSC Judge: François Leonardon (FRA)
• IFSC Head Routesetter – Boulder: Garrett Gregor (USA)
• IFSC Routesetter – Boulder: Sergio Verdasco (ESP)
• IFSC Routesetter – Boulder: Tsukasa Mizuguchi (JPN)
• IFSC Routesetter – Boulder: Olga Niemiec (POL)
• IFSC Routesetter – Boulder: Tomasz Olesky (POL)
• IFSC Routesetter – Boulder: Remi Samyn (FRA)
• IFSC Head Routesetter – Lead: Martin Hammerer (AUT)
• IFSC Routesetter – Lead: Akito Matsushima (JPN)
• IFSC Routesetter – Lead: Adam Pustelnik (POL)
• IFSC Routesetter – Lead: Brad Weaver (USA)
• IFSC Routesetter – Lead: Jan Zbranek (GER)

OLYMPIC CLIMBING ESSENTIALS

1. Athlete Database for Sport Climbing Paris 2024 (UK Climbing)
2. IFSC Officials Announced for Paris 2024 (IFSC)
3. Sport Climbing Qualification and Scoring Explainer (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
4. IFSC’s Media Guide to Paris 2024 (IFSC)
5. The competition and scoring system for climbing in Paris 2024 (Desnivel)
6. Olympic Torch Goes for a Climb, Ski and Highline in Chamonix (Gripped)
7. Youth Athletes Test Paris 2024 Climbing Walls (IFSC)
8. The Olympic Qualifier Series, Explained (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
9. Here’s Who’s Setting for the Paris Olympics (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
10. Full Results and Recap of Tokyo Olympic Games (Joe Robinson, CBJ)
11. A-to-Z Tokyo Olympic Resources for Climbing Industry Insiders (CBJ)

OLYMPIC RESULTS & RECAPS

UK Climbing Videos:

• Day 1 – Men’s Boulder Semi-Final
• Day 2 – Women’s Boulder Semi-Final
• Day 3 – Men’s Lead Semi-Final
• Day 4 – Women’s Lead Semi-Final
• Toby Roberts wins Olympic Gold at Paris 2024
• Women’s Olympic Climbing 2024 – The Closest Final Yet

Janja Garnbret Wins Second Olympic Gold; Team USA Climbs to Two Medals and World Record in Paris (Joe Robinson, CBJ)

The Men’s Lead & Boulder Combined Event Has Come to an Epic Finish (John Burgman, Outside)

Garnbret, Raboutou, and Pilz Medal in the Women’s Boulder & Lead Combined Final (John Burgman, Outside)

Paris 2024 Sport Climbing – Women’s Boulder & Lead Final – “even sweeter” Gold for Garnbret (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)

IFSC Articles:

• Miroslaw Makes History With First Ever Olympic Speed Gold
• Leonardo Wins Indonesia’s First Paris 2024 Gold
• Great Britain’s Roberts Takes Men’s Boulder & Lead Gold
• Garnbret Survives Injury Scare for Second Olympic Gold

OLYMPIC PERSPECTIVE & COMMENTARY

1. How did the Paris 2024 Olympic Games impact Sport Climbing Athletes’ Social Media Following? (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
2. Olympic routesetting controversy discussion (Impact Route Setting)
3. Podcast: Paris 2024 Olympics with Professional Climber and Coach Tim Kang (Testpiece Climbing)
4. Podcast: Olympic Reactions with Allison Vest (The Nugget)
5. Podcast: Commentary Queens – Men’s and Women’s Combined Finals in Paris (Circle Up with Allison and Kyra)
6. Podcast: Vertical Drag Racing – Part 2 (Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold)
7. Paris medals based on Tokyo and Los Angeles scoring (8a.nu)
8. How to Make the Climbing Olympics (Even) Better (Andrew Bisharat, Evening Sends)
9. Why Paris 2024 is Way Cooler (For Climbers) Than Tokyo 2021 (Steven Potter, Outside)
10. Was Climbing “Better” Before It Was an Olympic Sport? (Matt Samet, Outside)
11. Olympic Sport Climbing Is Dangerous. But Not How You’d Think (Owen Clarke, Outside)
12. Video: Road to the Olympics – Exclusive Interview with Ollie Torr (Lattice Training)
13. Podcast: Paris Preview (Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold)
14. Podcast: Meagan Martin – Olympics Predictions, Training like a Ninja Warrior (The Struggle)
15. Who’s Going to Podium at the Paris Olympics? Here’s Our Predictions (John Burgman, Outside)
16. How a team of climbers designed a gravity-defying boulder for a new Olympic sport (Elissaveta M. Brandon, Fast Company)
17. Meet the Paris 2024 Olympic Routesetters: Martin Hammerer, Lead (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
18. Meet the Paris 2024 Olympic Routesetters: Olga Niemiec, Boulder (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
19. Meet the Paris 2024 Olympic Routesetting Team – Garrett Gregor (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
20. WTF is a Rose Move? Plus, 39 Other Sport Climbing Terms You’ll Hear this Olympics (Matt Samet, Outside)
21. Climbing’s Olympic Legacy Already in Motion (IFSC)
22. How Our Olympic Climbers Are Supporting The Paris 2024 ‘Ecolympics’ (BMC)
23. Just How Hard is Olympic Sport Climbing? (Owen Clarke, Outside)
24. 8 Women to Watch in Boulder & Lead at the Paris Olympics (John Burgman, Outside)
25. 8 Speed Climbers To Watch for at the Paris Olympics (John Burgman, Outside)
26. The favourite climbers for the combined event in Paris 2024 (Isaac Fernandez, Desnivel)
27. Who Will Dominate Men’s Boulder & Lead at the Paris Olympics? (John Burgman, Outside)
28. What’s Different About Speed Climbing This Time Around? (Head Rush Technologies)
29. Video: Garrett Gregor – Paris 2024 head routesetter (EP Climbing)
30. Olympic heritage: a springboard for youth (Laurence Guyon, La Fabrique Verticale)
31. Climbing Moves We Might See in the Paris 2024 Olympics – and How to Do Them (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
32. What Can Regular Climbers Learn From the Eating Habits of Olympians? (Marisa Michael, Outside)
33. 12 Sport Climbing Highlights to Look Forward to in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
34. Budapest makes and breaks Paris 2024 Olympic dreams (Eddie Fowke, Planet Mountain)
35. Podcast: World Cup Rambles and Olympic Realizations (Circle Up with Allison and Kyra)
36. Who would have won Tokyo 2020 under the Paris 2024 scoring system? (Xa White, UK Climbing)
37. Video: Climbing’s Olympic “Universality Place” Explained (Tyler Norton, Plastic Weekly)
38. Video: Did the biggest names make it to Paris 2024? (UK Climbing)
39. Video: Did The Big Guns Make It? (EpicTV)
40. What legacy in climbing after the Paris 2024 Games? (Laurence Guyon, La Fabrique Verticale)
41. Paris Olympics – will there be a “wow” effect for manufacturers? (Laurence Guyon, La Fabrique Verticale)
42. What do you expect from the Paris 2024 Olympics? (Laurence Guyon, La Fabrique Verticale)
43. Shanghai Olympic Qualifier Series Combined Boulder & Lead Key Takeaways (Inside Climbing)
44. Race to the Olympics – Speed Climbing Key Takeaways from Shanghai OQS (Inside Climbing)

OLYMPIC ATHLETE PROFILES & INTERVIEWS

1. Video: Janja Garnbret Unfiltered – Climbing’s Greatest Competitor (adidas)
2. Team USA Sport Climbers Land in Spain for Training Camp (USAC)
3. How Hard Have Paris Olympians Climbed on Rock? (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
4. Podcast: Molly Thompson-Smith – Qualifying and preparing for the Olympics (Careless Talk)
5. Podcast: Colin Duffy – His Journey as a 2x Olympian (The Nugget)
6. Paris 2024’s favourite speed climbers (Isaac Fernandez, Desnivel)
7. Podcast: Great Expectations – Natalia Grossman and Jesse Grupper (Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold)
8. Podcast: Emma Hunt (The Nugget)
9. Sam Avezou, and Everything Becomes Possible (Antonin Pharel, Grimper)
10. The Georgia Gym That Shaped an Olympian (John Burgman, CBJ)
11. GB Climbing Olympic Coach Rachel Carr on Paris 2024 (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
12. Podcast: Brooke Raboutou – Paris Bound (Alex Honnold, Climbing Gold)
13. Podcast: Sam Watson – World’s Fastest Climber, Converting Strength to Power, Mindset Tips for Dealing with Pressure, and Olympics Preparation (The Struggle)
14. Jenya Kazbekova and Yaroslav Tkach: The Ukrainian Climbers in Paris 2024 Amid War (Anna Mavka, UK Climbing)
15. Conquering The Climb – Emma Hunt’s Ascent to Speed Climbing Stardom (Head Rush Technologies)
16. Meet the Olympic Climbers Representing Team USA at Paris 2024 (USAC)
17. Video: Colin Duffy’s Climbing Strategy for the Olympics (EpicTV)
18. Olympic Training at Portland Rock Gym – Team USA Climbers Conquer the Titan Wall (EP Climbing)
19. How a Sport Climber Prepares for the Olympics (Talia Barrington, The Cut)
20. Meet the Climbers on Team USA (Steven Potter, Outside)
21. Trio of Colorado climbers in Paris Olympics reinforce Boulder’s status as sport’s mecca (Kyle Newman, The Denver Post)
22. Four Sport Climbers Set for Team GB Debuts at Paris 2024 (GB Climbing)
23. Toby Roberts, the man who didn’t disdain (Antonin Pharel, Grimper)
24. Capucine Viglione, French speed champion and qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games (Alexis Piguel, Grimper)
25. McNeice, McArthur, and Thompson-Smith Qualify for Paris 2024 in Budapest (GB Climbing)
26. Raboutou Punches Her Ticket to Paris 2024 (USAC)
27. Alberto Ginés qualifies for Paris 2024 (Desnivel)
28. Hammer Punches His Ticket to Paris 2024 (USAC)
29. Brooke Raboutou Earns Gold at Olympic Qualifier Series (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
30. Bronze for Erin McNeice at the Olympic Qualifying Series in Shanghai (UK Climbing)
31. Lee, Ginés López, and Ondra Podium at Olympic Qualifier Series (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
32. Podcast: Jesse Grupper – Comp Climbing, Training, & His Relentless Positivity (TrainingBeta)
33. Janja Garnbret & Brooke Raboutou – progress through fun (Slovenian Tourist Board)
34. Video: Miho Nonaka – Japan’s Iconic Olympic Climber (adidas)
35. After Giving Up His 2020 Olympic Dreams for Family, Campbell Harrison Is Going to Paris (Holly Yu Tung Chen, Outside)
36. Podcast: The Down Under Lowdown with Campbell Harrison (Circle Up with Allison and Kyra)
37. Natalia Grossman’s Training for the Olympics (PhysiVāntage)
38. Brooke Raboutou is taking lessons from Tokyo as she eyes Paris 2024 (Nick McCarvel, Olympics.com)
39. Pay Day with Campbell Harrison (ABC News Australia)
40. Podcast: How Jesse Grupper is getting Psyched and Ready for the next Olympics (The RunOut)
41. South Korea’s Lee Dohyun Takes 50 Boulder & Lead Points in Shanghai (IFSC)
42. Raboutou Eyes Second Olympic Ticket After OQS Win (IFSC)
43. China, Indonesia Split Speed Glory in Shanghai (IFSC)
44. Conversation With… Molly Thompson-Smith (IFSC)
45. Podcast: Natalia Grossman – The Tyranny of Expectations (Enormocast)
46. Alberto Ginés – Our goal is to qualify (Eva Martos, Desnivel)
47. Podcast: Jesse Grupper (The Nugget)
48. Podcast: Jakob Schubert (The Nugget)
49. Podcast: Brooke Raboutou – An Olympian’s Mindset (The Nugget)
50. IFSC Continental Events Qualify 20 Climbing Athletes for Paris 2024 (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
51. Video: New Climbing Olympians From USA and Europe (Tyler Norton, Plastic Weekly)
52. What a Rookie Season! Sorato Anraku Is Headed to the Olympics (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
53. Video: Who is Toby Roberts?! Climbing’s New Olympian (UK Climbing)
54. Oriane Bertone and Toby Roberts Are Olympic-Bound (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
55. Toby Roberts and Oriane Bertone win IFSC European Qualifier and Olympic Tickets (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
56. Grossman, Grupper, and Watson Qualify for Paris 2024 (Mary Andino, Outside)
57. Four USA Climbing Athletes Qualify for Paris 2024 at Pan American Games (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)
58. Jesse Grupper Is Going to the Olympics (Aaron Pardy, Gripped)
59. Texas Teen Speeds to Ticket to Paris (USAC)
60. Gold Medal and Ticket to Paris for Piper Kelly (USAC)
61. American Speed Climber Piper Kelly Punches Ticket to Olympics (Delaney Miller, Outside)
62. Mawem and Miroslaw Qualify for Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Speed (Natalie Berry, UK Climbing)

Climbing Business Journal

Climbing Business Journal is an independent news outlet dedicated to covering the indoor climbing industry. Here you will find the latest coverage of climbing industry news, gym developments, industry best practices, risk management, climbing competitions, youth coaching and routesetting. Have an article idea? CBJ loves to hear from readers like you!