World Cup in Kranj: Janja Garnbret makes history, Sascha Lehmann slips

With a big show in front of a home audience, Janja Garnbret won the Lead World Cup in Slovenia. In the men's category, the Japanese Masahiro Higuchi won. This also makes it clear who the overall winners are.

She is now officially the most successful climber of all time: Janja Garnbret continued on her path to victory after her Olympic gala and climbed to the top of the podium once more last weekend. She was the last athlete to take the stage and came the farthest. Only a few moves to the top were missing for the 22-year-old (Highpoint 49+).

It is her 31st gold medal, overtaking the previous record holder, Jain Kim from South Korea. After the victory in front of a home crowd, it was also clear that Garnbret would be the overall winner in 2021 in the lead. Behind her are Natalia Grossman (USA) and Laura Rogora (ITA).

Sascha Lehmann led the qualifying round, but then slipped unhappily in the semifinals. (Image: Jan Virt / IFSC)
Sascha Lehmann was in the lead after the qualifying round, but then slipped in the semifinals. (Image: Jan Virt / IFSC)

Sascha Lehmann with a strong start

In the men's category, the Japanese Masahiro Higuchi won, he fell just below the top (high point 37) and took first place ahead of the Slovenian Luka Potocar and the German Sebastian Halenke - both with a high point of 1+. Stefano Ghisolfi only finished 31th in Kranj, but still secured the lead overall standings from Sean Bailey and Masahiro Higuchi.

The Swiss Sascha Lehmann got off to a tailor-made start. He was the leader after the qualifying round and thus had next Bailey and Ghisolfi still chances of overall victory. However, he unexpectedly slipped in the semifinals and ended up finishing the competition in 26th place. In the overall ranking, he landed in 5th place.

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Credits: picture Jan Virt / IFSC

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