Lead climbers shine as women progress in Bern World Championships

The second day of the IFSC Climbing World Championships 2023 in Bern, Switzerland, was marked by the excitement of the Women’s Lead qualification. With 100 climbers taking to the wall, anticipation was high to see who would make the cut and progress to the semi-finals.

Leading the charge was Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, who was the only competitor to top both routes in her attempts. Already known for her climbing prowess, Garnbret showed that she’s a force to be reckoned with as she aims for world titles and Olympic qualification for Paris 2024.

In the two groups of climbers, Garnbret and Japan’s Mori Ai were the standout performers, leading groups A and B respectively. Republic of Korea’s Seo Chaehyun and Italy’s Laura Rogora both claimed the top, proceeding to the semi-finals in joint third with USA’s Brooke Raboutou from group A.

One climber that caught the eye was France’s Oriane Bertone, who advanced in 11th place. Bertone commented on her achievements, saying, “I wasn’t expecting a lot… but it went very well as I happened to be above the bar of 40. It’s the first time I think I have done it in a comp.” She further emphasized her enjoyment in transitioning from bouldering to Lead climbing, stating that she felt like a combined athlete now.

Italy’s Camilla Moroni, who also prefers Boulder, made her way to the semi-finals in 17th place, expressing satisfaction with her performance, especially in the first route.

Joining the semi-final ranks is Lucija Tarkus, who secured the 26th position. She is one of five Slovenians to have made it through to the next stage.

The event in Bern follows the thrilling Men’s Boulder qualification on the opening day of the 2023 IFSC Climbing & Paraclimbing World Championships. The competition continues to draw the eyes of the world as athletes from various nations embrace their challenges with vigor and skill.

The full Women’s Lead qualification results can be found here, and those who missed the live action or want to revisit the memorable highlights can tune in to the official IFSC YouTube Channel for a detailed recap.

As the competition progresses over the next 12 days, featuring events in Boulder, Lead, Speed, Boulder & Lead, and Paraclimbing, fans around the world can look forward to more electrifying performances, building on the enthusiastic atmosphere of the opening days in the beautiful city of Bern.

Photos: David Schweizer