BMC welcomes decision for three standalone medal events for sport climbing at LA28

The British Mountaineering Council (BMC) welcomes the news from the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Sport Climbing will feature three standalone medal events at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
This decision marks a major step forward for our sport, with Speed, Boulder, and Lead climbing each recognised with individual medal sets for both men and women. It will be the first time that all three disciplines are given equal space on the Olympic stage, reflecting the growth of climbing worldwide.
The IOC has also confirmed an increase in athlete quotas, with a total of 76 competitors (38 women and 38 men) set to take part. The specific allocation of these quotas, and the possibility for athletes to compete in more than one event, will be outlined in the upcoming Olympic Qualification System.
This development follows climbing’s Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, where a single combined medal was awarded per gender, and its progression at Paris 2024, where two sets of medals were introduced. Great Britain’s Toby Roberts claimed gold in the men’s field at Paris 2024.
Laura Needham, Head of Performance at the BMC, said:
“This is a proud and defining moment for our sport. Recognising Speed, Boulder, and Lead with their own medals is a long-overdue step that honours the skill of athletes in each discipline.
“We look forward working with the GB Climbing team over the next four years through the LA28 cycle, and we thank the IFSC and IOC for championing this next step in Sport Climbing’s journey.”
The BMC would also like to thank UK Sport for their continued trust, collaboration, and investment in our organisation - along with National Lottery players and the UK Government - for their support, which continues to enable elite climbers to pursue their ambitions through the next Olympic cycle
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