Six things you probably didn't know about climbing and the Olympics
Did you know that alpinism used to be an Olympic sport? With sport climbing on the verge of making its Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, we bring you six fascinating facts about the history of climbing, competing and the Olympics.
The dream has been a long time coming: the International Olympic Committee provisionally recognised climbing in 2006, and the sport was shortlisted for the Tokyo 2020 games a year later. But climbing's Olympic roots go way deeper than that...
1. Alpinism became an Olympic sport in 1894, the year the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was founded.
The first time Olympic medals were handed to climbers was 1924, to members of General Bruce's expedition for outstanding feats on Everest; the summit had still never been climbed but they came within 500 tantalising metres of it. German brothers Franz and Tony Schmidt were the next to receive the Olympic Alpine Prize, for making the first ascent of the Matterhorn’s North Face. In 1936, Gunter and Mrs Dyenfurth won the award for their Himalayan exploration. Then, In 1946, the Alpinism Prize was dropped from the Olympics.
2. Stefan Glowacz won the first ever official lead climbing competition.
It took place outdoors in 1985, in the Olympic town of Bardonecchia in Italy, at an event called SportRoccia. The next year, more than 10,000 people watched Patrick Edlinger and Catherine Destivelle win the second SportRoccia, which was held in Arco di Trento. A few months later, the French Federation held the first indoor event in Vaulx-en-Velin, Lyon. Climbing was officially a competition sport.
WATCH: Highlights from SportRoccia in dashing 80s leggings
3. The first World Cup climbing event was held in Leeds and won by Jerry Moffat.
WATCH: Jerry Moffat winning in Leeds in 1989
4. Simon Nadin was crowned overall world climbing champion that year. In 2016, Shauna Coxsey became the second Brit to hold the title.
The UIAA recognised climbing in 1988, and the first World Cup, or Grand Prix as they were called then, was held in Leeds in May 1989. The disciplines were speed and lead. In 1990 it was decided that international events would only take place on artificial walls. Bouldering became a competition sport in 1998.
5. In 2012 Kenton Cool carried an Olympic gold medal to the summit of Mount Everest to fulfil a promise made by the 1924 medal winners.
When he received the Olympic Alpine Prize in 1924, Edward Strutt, who was the deputy leader of the Everest expedition, pledged to place one of the medals on the summit of Everest one day. Kenton Cool kept the promise for him, 90 years later.
6. Climbing actually featured in the Olympic games held in Nanjing in 2014.
Yes, the IFSC already organised an Olympic event: the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympic Games, where all three disciplines — lead, speed and bouldering — were showcased to the world.
GB Climbing's very own athletes Jennifer Wood and Orrin Coley were nominated to represent Great Britain and Jen was selected by the IFSC to form part of the delegation.
READ: How to watch climbing in the Olympics
Related Content
Olympics News
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a historic occasion for British climbing, marking a significant milestone in the sport's journey.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Bursting onto the scene in 2024, 20-year-old Erin McNeice has cemented herself as one of the world’s best climbers. Qualifying for the finals in seventh, McNeice proved she was a force to be reckoned with.
Olympics News
In a thrilling conclusion to the Men's Sport Climbing finals at Paris 2024, Great Britain's Toby Roberts secured a sensational gold medal while Hamish McArthur takes an emotional fifth.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Erin McNeice qualifies for Olympic final whilst Thompson-Smith finishes with a top-ten Lead performance.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Following today’s Lead Semifinal, Great Britain are the only nation to qualify two athletes for Men’s Boulder & Lead Final.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Erin McNeice and Molly Thompson-Smith put their first points on the scoreboard at Paris 2024, as the Women's Boulder Semifinal took place at Le Bourget yesterday, part of the Boulder & Lead event.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The Men's Boulder Semifinal at Paris 2024 got underway today on the walls of Le Bourget, with four fresh boulders ready to be tackled. Today marked a moment for the history books as Great Britain’s Hamish McArthur and Toby Roberts made their Olympic debuts. They are the first men to represent Great Britain in Sport Climbing at the Olympic Games.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Get ready for wall-to-wall action as the sport climbing competition at Paris 2024 kicks-off today with four Olympic debutants taking to the wall for Great Britain.
Indoor Climbing Articles
In a matter of days, 40 climbers from all around the globe will battle it out across three climbing disciplines of speed, lead and bouldering on the world's most watched wall of the year. Four British climbers will be among them representing Great Britain in Sport Climbing at Paris 2024 Olympic games. But how and where can you watch all the action? We have all the answers.
Olympics
With four GB Climbing athletes heading across the channel for the Olympic boulder and lead competitions starting Monday 5 August, not only are they bringing their A-game in terms of performance but, as part of the BMC, the whole team is supporting Paris 2024 in its bid to be the ‘greenest ever Games’.
Olympics News
The 2024 Olympic Games are underway, and the nation's eyes are firmly on Paris and all the Team GB athletes. As Sport Climbing makes its second-ever appearance at the Olympic Games, we get to witness a new chapter in history as four climbers step out onto the mats to represent Great Britain.
Olympics Articles
A brief history of competition climbing
Olympics News
Four sport climbers will make their Olympic Games debuts this summer for Team GB as the British Olympic Association (BOA) name the team that will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) celebrates the historic inclusion of Paraclimbing in the LA28 Paralympic Sport Program. This landmark decision represents a significant milestone for the sport, reflecting its growing popularity globally.
Olympics News
The culmination of the Olympic Qualifying Series in Budapest saw GB Climbing athletes Erin McNeice, Hamish McArthur, and Molly Thompson-Smith qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics Games.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Round Two of the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) kicked off in Budapest, marking the athletes' final opportunity to secure a spot for Paris 2024. As the heat was turned up on and off the wall the top 20 men’s and women’s Boulder & Lead semi-finalists have been confirmed.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) is reaching its finale at the Ludovika Campus in Budapest this week. A total of 48 top climbers from around the globe will vie for their last chance to secure a spot in the Boulder & Lead event for Paris 2024.
Olympics Articles
GB Climbing's Toby Roberts talks training, mindset, hopes and fears for his first Olympic Games this summer.
Olympics News
Erin McNeice and Hamish McArthur put on a world-class show in the finals of Boulder & Lead competition at the Olympic Qualifier Series Shanghai, on Sunday (18 May).
Perfformiad
The third day of the Olympic Qualifying Series (OQS) featured the men’s and women’s Boulder & Lead semi-finals, selecting the top-eight athletes to compete in the final.
Perfformiad
Part one of the Olympic Qualifying Series in Shanghai, China, began today with the Boulder qualifying round. 46 men and 48 women are contesting the combined Boulder and Lead event at the city’s Urban Park over a four-day event on the Huangpu riverside, all in a bid to secure coveted spots at Paris 2024.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) can today announce the lineup that will compete in Shanghai, China to represent the GB Climbing team at the first event of the Olympic Qualifying Series from Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 May 2024.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) is proud to reaffirm our commitment to clean sport by backing UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD’s) Clean Sport Week campaign from 13 - 17 May.
Olympics News
GB Climbing’s Toby Roberts rounded off a formidable season with a victory at the 2023 European Boulder and Lead Olympic Qualifier event.
Perfformiad
Read the BMC statement following the Competition Climbing Performance Group (CCPG) report.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Elections for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Athletes’ Commission took place at the 2021 IFSC Climbing World Championships in Moscow, Russia, with Olympian Shauna Coxsey MBE, of Great Britain, elected as President.
Olympics Articles
GB Climbing works alongside promising young climbers to help create the stars of tomorrow. But how to do this? Niall Grimes talks to Tim Cunnington, the Coach Development Manager at GB Climbing to find out more about the thinking behind the process.
Perfformiad
It’s been an exhilarating three days watching Sport Climbing’s debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the fourth and final day was not one to disappoint either. Here's our report of the Women's Sport Climbing Final.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Summary of Day 3 of the Sport Climbing Men's Finals at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Perfformiad Newyddion
Shauna Coxsey becomes the first climbing Olympian of Great Britain. Highlights of the second day of Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the women's qualification round.
News
Highlights of first day of Sport Climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the men's qualification round.
Perfformiad Newyddion
The International Olympic Committee officially confirmed that Sport Climbing has been included on the sports programme of the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
Perfformiad Newyddion
Shauna Coxsey became the first sport climber selected to represent Team GB at the Olympic Games.
Perfformiad Newyddion
GB Climbing’s Shauna Coxsey has qualified for a Tokyo 2020 quota place at the Combined Event.