Sport climbing at the Summer Olympics Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sport climbing at the Summer Olympics

Events	4 (men: 2; women: 2)
Games
1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020
Medalists

Competition climbing is a super exciting sport where athletes climb walls using their strength, skill, and smarts! It made its first appearance at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. The sport is managed by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC).

How Climbing Joined the Olympics
- The Olympic Selection Process
Understanding the Competition Format
- Why the Combined Format?
Olympic Climbing Events and Medals
See also

How Climbing Joined the Olympics

Did you know that getting a new sport into the Olympics is a big deal? The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) first suggested adding competition climbing in 2015.

The Olympic Selection Process

In September 2015, competition climbing was put on a special list. Other sports like baseball, softball, skateboarding, surfing, and karate were also on this list. They were all hoping to be part of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Then, in June 2016, the main group in charge of the Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), said they would support adding all these sports. Finally, on August 3, 2016, it was official! All five sports (counting baseball and softball as one) were approved for the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Understanding the Competition Format

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, climbers competed in two main events: one for men and one for women. Both events combined three different types of climbing:

Competition speed climbing: This is a race to the top of a wall.
Competition bouldering: Climbers solve short, tricky climbing puzzles without ropes.
Competition lead climbing: Athletes try to climb as high as they can on a tall wall while clipped into a rope.

Why the Combined Format?

Many climbers weren't happy that these three different styles were combined into one event. But the IFSC, the sport's governing body, explained why. The Olympic committee only allowed them one gold medal per gender. They really wanted to include speed climbing, so they decided to combine all three.

Their main goal for the 2020 Olympics was to simply get climbing and its three parts recognized as Olympic sports. They hoped to change the format later. This plan worked! For the 2024 Summer Olympics, climbers will compete for more medals. Speed climbing will be its own event, separate from a combined event of lead climbing and bouldering.

Olympic Climbing Events and Medals

Here's a quick look at how climbing events have been part of the Olympics:

Games	Year	Events	Best Nation
2020	2020	2	Spain/ Slovenia
2024	2024	4

Current Olympic Climbing Program

This table shows the climbing events and when they happened or will happen:

Event	2020	2024	Years
Current program
Men's combined	X	X	2
Men's speed		X	1
Women's combined	X	X	2
Women's speed		X	1

Events	2	4

Olympic Records in Climbing

Here are some of the fastest times recorded in Olympic speed climbing:

Event	Round	Climber	Nation	Time	Games	Date	Record
Men's combined (speed)	Qualification	Bassa Mawem	France	5.45	2020 Tokyo	3 August 2021	OR
Women's combined (speed)	Qualification	Aleksandra Mirosław	Poland	6.97	2020 Tokyo	4 August 2021	OR
Women's combined (speed)	Final	Aleksandra Mirosław	Poland	6.84	2020 Tokyo	6 August 2021	WR