Sport Climbing is Coming to the Olympics

Sport climbing is coming to the Olympics!  Here’s what to know:

1. Sport climbing is a form of rock climbing that may rely on permanent anchors fixed to the rock for protection, in which a rope that is attached to the climber is clipped into the anchors to arrest a fall, or that involves climbing short distances with a crash pad underneath as protection.
2. Sport climbing emphasizes strength, endurance, gymnastic ability and technique.
3. In the Olympics, sport climbing will consist of three component parts:
   1. Speed
   2. Bouldering
   3. Lead
4. Speed climbing is exactly what it sounds like!  Climbers attempt to scale a 15 meter wall as fast as possible.  They race against an opponent on an identical route.
5. Bouldering involves climbing as many fixed routes as possible on a 4.5 meter “wall.”  Doesn’t sound like real bouldering to me, but that’s the sport of it!
6. Lead involves athletes attempting to scale a wall measuring over 15 meters, as high as they can, within six minutes.  The wall is designed such that the very top competitor is theoretically able to reach the top, while all others fail.  If two or more climbers reach the same height, the tie is broken by time.

Hope you enjoy watching!