The year 2024 proved to be an extraordinary milestone for the global climbing community. From historic Olympic performances on the world stage to groundbreaking first ascents on remote alpine faces, the vertical world witnessed unprecedented leaps in human capability. Athletes pushed the boundaries of speed, difficulty, and endurance, rewriting what was previously thought impossible. Here is a look back at the top twelve rock climbing achievements, milestones, and moments that defined the sport in 2024.
1. Toby Roberts Secures Olympic GoldThe Paris 2024 Olympic Games showcased sport climbing to a massive global audience, and Great Britain’s Toby Roberts delivered a performance for the history books. At just 19 years old, Roberts displayed incredible composure in the Boulder & Lead combined final. By executing a flawless lead climb, he upset the favorites to capture the Olympic gold medal, cementing his status as a generational talent and inspiring a new wave of youth climbers worldwide.
2. Janja Garnbret Solidifies Her LegacyAlready considered the greatest competitive climber of all time, Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret extended her reign at the Paris Olympics. Facing immense pressure as the defending champion, Garnbret dominated the bouldering phase and held her nerve during the lead discipline. Her second consecutive Olympic gold medal solidified her legacy, proving that her mental fortitude matches her unmatched physical prowess.
3. Sam Watson Smashes the Speed RecordThe Speed climbing discipline reached terrifyingly fast new heights in 2024. American climber Sam Watson stunned spectators at the Paris Olympics by scaling the 15-meter wall in a mind-boggling 4.74 seconds during the bronze-medal match. Watson broke his own previously established world record, illustrating the rapid evolution and pure athleticism now required in vertical sprinting.
4. Katie Lamb Tames Bouldering ClassicsOut on the real rock, Katie Lamb continued her historic run through the world’s hardest boulder problems. Throughout 2024, Lamb consolidated her position at the top of the outdoor bouldering scene by ticking off multiple double-digit V-scale problems with remarkable efficiency. Her technical precision and finger strength served as a masterclass in modern bouldering progression.
5. Will Bosi Repeats the World’s Hardest BoulderScottish climber Will Bosi maintained his incredible momentum in early 2024 by securing the third ascent of “Burden of Dreams” in Finland, widely regarded as the world’s first consensus V17 (9A) boulder problem. Bosi utilized replica holds and intensive simulator training to decode the ultra-minimalist granite crimps, demonstrating how modern technology is reshaping outdoor strategy.
6. Jakob Schubert Plugs Away at FlatangerAfter a monumental previous year, Austrian powerhouse Jakob Schubert returned to the Hanshelleren Cave in Flatanger, Norway, to push the limits of endurance. Schubert spent portions of 2024 working on projected lines that threaten to break the 9c barrier. His relentless work ethic in the cave highlighted the sheer dedication required to pioneer the next grade of sport climbing.
7. Seb Bouin Innovates in the Verdon GorgeFrench climber Seb Bouin continued his relentless assault on ultra-hard sport routes, making waves with massive first ascents in the Verdon Gorge. Known for his ability to find aesthetic, extremely physical lines on limestone tufas, Bouin’s new routes in 2024 pushed the French grading system to its absolute limits, further expanding Europe’s catalog of elite climbs.
8. Brooke Raboutou’s Historic Olympic SilverAmerican favorite Brooke Raboutou achieved a lifelong dream by climbing her way onto the Olympic podium in Paris. Raboutou showed remarkable consistency across both the bouldering and lead portions of the final event. Her silver medal win was a testament to years of rigorous training, emotional resilience, and deep family climbing heritage.
9. New Frontier on El CapitanYosemite National Park remained a hotbed for big-wall progression in 2024. A handful of elite teams focused on freeing old aid lines and establishing faster ascent times on El Capitan’s sheer granite face. These efforts brought a renewed focus to traditional ethics, emphasizing clean gear placement, mental stamina, and minimalistic big-wall style.
10. Ashima Shiraishi Returns to Top FormFormer prodigy Ashima Shiraishi made a triumphant return to high-end outdoor bouldering and sport climbing projects in 2024. Shiraishi, who transitioned into an influential voice for inclusivity in the sport, reminded the world of her natural climbing genius by unlocking several complex, technical testpieces, bridging the gap between indoor creativity and outdoor grit.
11. Laura Rogora Triumphs on Italian LimestoneItaly’s Laura Rogora reminded the global climbing community of her immense finger strength by redpointing multiple 9a and 9a+ routes across Europe. Rogora’s ability to effortlessly navigate microscopic holds and technical vertical faces kept her at the absolute forefront of female sport climbing progression throughout the year.
12. The Dawn of the 10a ProjectionThe year closed with the climbing world looking collectively toward the future, as discussions and initial movements began on routes hinting at the mythical 10a (5.16a) grade. Top-tier athletes openly shared their training metrics and data-driven approaches, signaling that the barrier of human physical limitation is bound to be pushed even further in the coming years.
The remarkable feats of 2024 demonstrated that rock climbing is growing at an exponential rate. Whether on the standard plastic of Olympic arenas or the unforgiving stone of remote cliffs, climbers are finding innovative ways to train harder, climb smarter, and move faster. As the boundaries of the sport continue to expand, these twelve milestones will stand as the foundation for the next generation of vertical pioneers. AI responses may include mistakes. Learn more
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