Strong performances across RP sport classes secured the host nation the top spot at Momentum Fort Union.
The IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Series 2025 kicked off in Salt Lake City, Utah, with athletes competing across 19 out of 20 possible sport classes at the Momentum Fort Union climbing gym. The event marked the first of three stops on the Para Climbing World Cup circuit this year, then culminating with the IFSC Para Climbing World Championships in Seoul, South Korea, this September.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED ATHLETES SHINE IN B SPORT CLASSES
Japan and Romania were dominant in the men’s B categories, with Japanese climbers Aita Sho and Hamanoue Fumiya taking gold in B1 and B3, respectively, and Cosmin Florin Candoi placing first in B3 ahead of fellow Romanian athlete Daniel-Bebe-Vasilică Andrei.
In the women’s field, Italy’s Nadia Bredice and Austria’s Linda Le Bon both secured their third consecutive World Cup victories – Bredice in the B1 sport class, Le Bon in the B2 one – while 17-year-old Linn Poston of the USA earned her second international win in B3. Notable medals also came from Spain – silver in men's B1 with Francisco Javier Aguilar Amoedo, and bronze in men's B2 with Guillermo Pelegrín Gómez; and Germany – silver and bronze in the women's B2 final with Luisa Grube and Ivon Lawerenz, respectively.
Bredice said: "I'm very excited, it's been a fantastic final, every aspect of it has been great. I'm very happy about this gold medal.
"The route was quite interesting, it had some interesting moved, I liked it a lot!"
For the B sport classes complete results click here.
AMPUTEE ATHLETES MAKE HISTORY AND EXTEND LEGACIES
AL and AU sport classes saw a mix of historic moments and dominant displays.
In the merged women's and men's AL1 categories, Angelino Zeller of Austria took gold in a unique podium that featured two men and one woman – a first in Para Climbing history. Taking silver was Zeller's friend and teammate Markus Pösendorfer, while Belgium's Pavitra Vandenhoven finished third.
Thierry Delarue of France narrowly won the men's AL2 event by the slimmest of margins, 44+ to 44, while Lucie Jarrige, also representing France, claimed her 13th World Cup title in the women’s AL2 class.
Jarrige said: “I’m very happy with this new gold medal. There are more and more athletes competing in Para Climbing, and winning these medals is getting harder and harder. Routesetting was nice, the atmosphere was great, and the organisation was also very good.
"With the sport being included in the Paralympic Games we are all very excited, but also a bit stressed, I would say. It's a completely new experience for us, and we are looking forward to be part of it!"
Team USA dominated the AU2 class, with Brian Zarzuela upgrading from last year’s silver to gold in AU2, while Mor Michael Sapir of Israel won AU3 by countback on time. Solenne Piret of France extended her winning streak with her 11th career World Cup gold in AU2, and Germany’s Rosalie Schaupert topped the AU3 podium after the two bronzes she won in Salt Lake City in 2022 and 2023.
For the AL and AU sport classes complete results click here.
USA CLAIMS THREE GOLDS IN RP CLASSES
In the medal events for athletes with range and power impairments the home team USA delivered a commanding performance, earning four of the six available gold medals.
In the men’s field, Aloïs Pottier of France continued his remarkable consistency and won RP1, medalling at every event he’s entered. Brayden Butler of the USA claimed his first career Para Climbing World Cup gold in at only 19 years old by placing first in RP2, and Takano Tadashi of Japan secured his fifth consecutie gold medal in RP3.
"I'm very happy with my gold medal. The route was great, but also very hard!" said Takano.
"Back in Japan, I'm an elementary school teacher, I'm very grateful for all the kids that support me from home and for all the people that supported me and allowed me to be here, now."
In the women’s field, Team USA swept the RP1 podium, with Hannah Zook earning her first international title, followed by Melissa Ruiz in second place and Jackie Stewart in third. Nat Vorel, also representing the USA, picked up where she left off in 2024, securing another gold in Salt Lake City in the women's RP3 event, while Austria’s Jasmin Plank topped the RP2 podium for her sixth career win - the first one dating back to the IFSC Para Climbing World Cup Los Angeles 2021.
For the RP sport classes complete results click here.
MEDAL TABLE
Twenty nations from all five continents made it to the podium, with the USA placing first with 14 total medals, and France following in second thank to four golds out of five total podiums. Japan completed the top three with three golds, three silvers, and one bronze.
| NATION | GOLD | SILVER | BRONZE | TOTAL |
| USA | 5 | 3 | 6 | 14 |
| France | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Japan | 3 | 3 | 1 | 7 |
| Austria | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Germany | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Romania | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Italy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Israel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Slovenia | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Spain | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| India | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| South Africa | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Switzerland | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Great Britain | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Norway | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Belgium | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Canada | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Slovakia | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Total | 19 | 19 | 19 | 57 |
NEXT UP
Following the Para Climbing action, Salt Lake City will now host the next stop of the IFSC Climbing World Cup circuit, with a Boulder-only event scheduled from 23 to 25 May.
News and updates about all IFSC events will be available on the IFSC website and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.
