At the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Seoul, South Korea, the American Natalia Grossman and the Japanese Fujii Kokoro secured the gold medal in the bouldering discipline.
The American Natalia Grossman capped off her fantastic performance with a flash on problem number four. The US talent ended the competition with the gold medal around his neck and an impressive record of 13 boulder problems solved between qualification, semifinals and finals.
The Frenchwoman Oriane Bertone had the gold medal within reach until she slipped on problem number three just inches from the top. The 17-year-old finished second, earning the third World Cup medal of her career. The podium completed Brooke Raboutou. The Tokyo 2020 Olympian secured the bronze medal with three tops and three zones.
Finished just outside the medal ranks Stasa Gejo from Serbia with two tops and four zones placed fourth, Camilla Moroni from Italy was fifth with a top and two zones, and Aoyagi Mia from Japan finished sixth with three zones.
Strong team Japan
Team Japan proved its dominance in bouldering among the men. With eight athletes in the semifinals and five in the finals, the Japan national team took the men's podium.
The reigning bouldering world champion Fujii Kokoro climbed to the top step of the podium thanks to an exciting top on problem number 4, which he secured just before time was up. Narasaki Tomoa – Gold medalist at the first Bouldering World Cup of the season in Meiringen – won silver with three tops and four zones. The bronze medal went to Ogata Yoshiyuki with three tops and three zones.
The only non-Japanese finalist - Frenchman Paul Jenft - took fourth place, followed by Narasaki Meichi and Dohi Keita from Japan in fifth and sixth place.
The IFSC World Cup Series 2022 is now moving on to Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah, where a bouldering and a speed event will take place from May 20th to 22nd and from May 27th to 29th.
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Credits: Cover picture Dimitris Tosidis / IFSC