Introduction to Climbing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Climbing will once again take center stage at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Here’s everything you need to know about the competition format, Team USA’s top athletes, and other key details.
Everything 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 Games in 2021. Before that, the sport was first featured in the Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games in 2018. Along with skateboarding and surfing, climbing’s inclusion was part of a broader effort to expand the Olympic program and attract a younger audience. Sport climbing will also be featured in the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
How Does Olympic Climbing Work?
Olympic sport climbing consists of three disciplines: bouldering, lead, and speed.
Bouldering: Athletes climb a 4.5-meter wall (nearly 15 feet) without ropes, aiming to complete the climb in the fewest attempts within a limited time.
Lead: Climbers attempt to reach the top of a 15-meter wall (nearly 50 feet) in a single attempt within six minutes.
Speed: In one-on-one elimination rounds and a race against the clock, climbers scale a 15-meter wall with a five-degree incline. Top male climbers can complete the climb in under six seconds, while top female climbers typically do it in under seven seconds.
Scoring System:
The scoring system for the 2024 Paris Olympics differs from the one used in Tokyo. In Tokyo, scores from each discipline were multiplied to get a final score. For Paris, the new system for bouldering and lead awards a maximum of 200 points.
Bouldering: Climbers score points by advancing up the wall through various “zones” (5 points for the low zone, 10 points for the high zone) and by reaching the top hold (25 points). Points are deducted for multiple attempts. A perfect bouldering round, where climbers flash all four problems, is worth 100 points.
Lead: Climbers earn points by successfully holding the top 40 holds. Points increase as they move higher on the wall. If a climber attempts the next hold but fails to secure it, they receive an additional 0.1 points.
Competitors:
Bouldering/Lead: 20 men and 20 women compete.
Speed: 14 men and 14 women compete. Each climber participates in two speed runs on different walls. They are then ranked based on their fastest time, determining the matchups for the elimination rounds.
Stay tuned for the excitement of climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics!
