The inclusion of climbing, along with skateboarding and surfing, was part of an effort to broaden the Olympic program with urban sports, aiming to attract more young people. Climbing will also be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Summer Olympics.
How Does Olympic Climbing Work?
Olympic sport climbing is divided into three disciplines: bouldering, speed, and lead.
- Bouldering: Climbers tackle a 4.5-meter wall (about 15 feet) without ropes, trying to reach the top in the least amount of attempts within a set time.
- Lead: Climbers aim to climb as high as possible on a 15-meter wall (about 50 feet) within six minutes, but they only get one attempt.
- Speed: Climbers race against each other and the clock, scaling a 15-meter wall with a five-degree incline. Top male climbers can do it in under six seconds, and top female climbers often finish in under seven seconds.
For the current Games, speed climbing is its own event, while bouldering and lead are combined. This change lets climbers specialize more.
Scoring System
The scoring system has changed since the Tokyo Games. In 2021, scores from all disciplines were multiplied together for a final score. Now, with speed climbing as a separate event, bouldering and lead each have a maximum of 200 points.
In bouldering, climbers earn points by progressing up the wall through various "zones" (5 points for the low zone, 10 points for the high zone) and for reaching the top hold (25 points). Points are deducted for extra attempts. A perfect round, completing four boulder problems on the first try, scores 100 points.
In lead, climbers score points by successfully holding up to 40 holds on the wall. Points increase with each hold, and if a climber attempts but fails to secure a hold, they get an additional 0.1 points to their score for effort.
sport climbing combined olympics 2024
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