At the first IFSC Bouldering World Cup of the season in Hachioji, Japan, the American Brooke Raboutou wins gold and thus the first World Cup medal of her career. Hannah Meul secures the silver medal and thus seamlessly follows on from her successes of the past competition season. Place goes to the Japanese Anon Matsufuji.
Eight female climbers from six different nations competed in the final of the IFSC Bouldering World Cup Hachioji against each other. For each of them, a win would have meant the first World Cup gold of their career. In the end it came true Brooke Raboutou this dream. Janja Garnbret or Natalia Grossman had always won the past 17 Bouldering World Cups.
IFSC Boulder World Cup Hachioji: Final Highlights
"It's crazy. I'm overwhelmed by my feelings and can't really classify them yet. I knew I'd won as soon as I topped the last boulder, but even then I was like, 'Are you sure? »
Brooke Raboutou
Successful start to the season for Hannah Meul
The German high-flyer Hannah Meul also showed a strong performance in Hachioji and finished the first Bouldering World Cup of the 2023 season in second place.
"I'm super happy to start the season like this. This is definitely the best place to start. I had the perfect mix of nervousness and confidence in my climbing and what I can do."
Hannah Meul
The 22-year-old says the competition was emotionally very tough for her given the loss of her teammate Christoph Schweiger. “The love we all have for climbing is something that can't die, so I wanted to explore that spirit for him. In the end he gave me a lot of strength.”
Personal bests
The Japanese Anon Matsufuji won the bronze medal in front of a home crowd, her best result at an IFSC Bouldering World Cup. The same applies to the young Israeli Ayala Kerem, who finished the competition in fourth place. The places five and six go to the Chinese Zhilu Luo and the Slovenian Mia Krampl.
Ranking IFSC Boulder World Cup Hachioji Women
- Brooke Raboutou (USA)
- Hannah Meul (GER)
- Anon Matsufuji (JPN)
- Ayala Kerem (ISR)
- Zhilu Lou (CHN)
- Mia Krampl (SLO)
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Credits: Cover picture Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC