After the debut of sport climbing at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, the discipline moved into its second round in Paris – and with a new competition format! Speed climbing was held as a standalone event, while lead climbing and bouldering were combined into one competition. The specially constructed climbing facility for the Olympic Games in Le Bourget provided a fantastic stage for the top 20 athletes from around the world – including two of our EDELRID athletes!

We followed the semifinals with great excitement, cheering on Laura Rogora and Jenya Kazbekova from the EDELRID headquarters in Isny. Laura faced some challenges with the difficult boulders but was able to score stronger points in lead climbing. Overall, she achieved 70.3 points, placing her 18th. Jenya delivered a balanced performance in both bouldering and lead climbing, ultimately securing 15th place with 84.6 points.

The tension was palpable, as only the top eight athletes qualified for the finals! In the end, favorite Janja Garnbret triumphed with an outstanding performance in both climbing and bouldering, scoring 195.7 out of a possible 200 points – a truly impressive final!

With great enthusiasm and pride, we reflect on the remarkable performances of all the climbers! A huge shoutout to Laura and Jenya for their success and participation in the Summer Olympics! What an unforgettable experience to be part of this unique competition!

„It would be hard to put into words what this Olympic experience meant to me. From representing my country on the biggest stage of the world in such hard times to inspiring others to follow their dreams. It all starts with a daring dream, and it continues with character, perseverance, amazing team and self belief. The last two years I've lost homes, moved countries, found friends and created community. All the hard times made me resilient and got me to where I am today. There is no other place I'd rather be, as long as I'm able to keep learning, keep challenging myself and showing the world what I'm capable of.

Paris has left me with a lot of gratitude and feeling of wanting more. My path has given me different perspectives on the world and at the same time, kept me grounded. Both has made me realize that I want a better world for all of us, climbing and non climbing.

Thankfully, we have quite a few amazing ambassadors of our sport and I know together we are strong. I couldn't be more proud and motivated to keep going and pursuing my dreams. Thank you for all your support!“

Jenya Kazbekova

    „Another chapter of my athletic journey has come to a close. It has been a long road, full of doubts, insecurities, some injuries, but also immense joy and satisfaction. After Tokyo, where the experience was heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, I was determined to qualify for Paris and fully embrace the Olympic experience.

    The Olympic qualifiers were, without a doubt, the most mentally challenging competitions of my career, and they taught me a great deal. The month between the two qualifying events was particularly tough. In Shanghai, the competition didn't go as well as I had hoped, so I knew I had to give my best in Budapest to achieve my goal. When I finally secured my spot for Paris, it felt like a dream come true. The next step was to go there, enjoy the experience, and deliver a performance I could be proud of.

    Unfortunately, things didn’t go exactly as planned. In the month leading up to the event, I wasn’t feeling at my peak. I had reached the peak of my form during the qualifiers, and as a result, I felt a bit worn out. Still, I never gave up and did everything I could to arrive in Paris in the best possible condition. The competition was challenging; the boulders were tough for me, and I made a small technical mistake in the lead climb. However, the Olympics are about so much more than just the competition itself.

    The atmosphere in the Olympic Village and sharing the experience with my family are things that I will always cherish and be proud of.

    There will be other competitions where I hope to prove my worth, and I believe that the importance placed on the Olympic event is often exaggerated. What truly defines the Olympics is the context, the experience as a whole. If I could go back, I would make every single sacrifice again just to be there and relive that unique experience.

    Now, it's time to turn the page. The season is nearly over, and after that, I plan to take a month off to focus on rock climbing and reflect on new goals. I’m not sure what the future holds, but it might be the right time to make some changes.

    As I move forward, I will carry the lessons of Paris 2024 with me, and I am excited to see where this journey will take me next.“

    Laura Rogora

      A profile of our athletes

      • Edelrid Logo
        Team Global
        Bouldering | Sport Climbing
        Laura Rogora
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      • Edelrid Logo
        Team Ukraine
        Bouldering | Sport Climbing
        Jenya Kazbekova
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