Quotes from the athletes competing in Koper, Slovenia.
FINALS
JANJA GARNBRET (SLO)
“I was reminded before the competition that this could be my 31st win, but I honestly wasn’t thinking about it before the final. But now I can think about it and I am really happy about it.
“This year marks the tenth year since I made my debut in Chamonix at a senior World Cup and it’s crazy how far I have come. A 31st win is unbelievable.”
“Every year girls are training hard and trying to catch me and I am trying to stay one or two steps ahead of them, but they are very strong and I can feel it so I need to try hard which is great.”
SEMI-FINALS
SEO CHAEHYUN (KOR)
“I don’t usually climb so well in Koper because I’m not adapted to the humidity, but this time I climbed so well and smoothly so I hope for the best in the final.”
“I try not to think about the series win and just focus on my climbing here. I just want to do my best climb in the final.”
ALBERTO GINÉS LÓPEZ (ESP)
“I think in the semi-final I performed much better than in qualis where I struggled with the route quite a lot. I was quite nervous but I’m happy now.”
“Tomorrow is one of the most important days of the season. I’m fighting with Satone for the first position [in the series] so tomorrow will be super important in the final. I’ll rest a little in the morning and read to get prepared.”
QUALIFICATION
JANJA GARNBRET (SLO)
“Qualification was really good. I feel very comfortable in Koper."
“The crowd of course, it brings more pressure, but still I’m really enjoying the crowd, the kids, my family is here, my friends are here, and I really enjoyed qualis today. I felt really good and I’m happy with my climbing and I’m looking forward to semis.”
JAKOB SCHUBERT (AUT)
“I mean it was my first international competition since the Olympics, so I definitely felt a little rusty and way more nervous in the first qualification than I have in a while I think, but I was happy.”
“To be honest I struggled with some injuries since the Olympics last year. I probably trained a little bit too much. You know there was so much motivation going to the Olympics. I really wanted to achieve the best result in my career and my body together but after it said ‘it’s over.
"I had a few injuries in the fall and then in January I did one of my last boulder simulations and injured my finger, and it turned out to be a much worse injury than I thought and I really struggled. It’s still not completely healed, but it finally feels way better, and I feel like I can try hard again.”
JONAS UTELLI (SUI)
“It was ok. A decent fight in the first one, but too many technical mistakes, but a good show and a good fight. The second was really controlled climbing. I knew what I had to do to get through. I did my job.”
“I think I have had too many ups and downs this season and not been as consistent as I would have liked to be. But one final in Chamonix and some top tens and close calls, I can be more than happy and I progressed small points more than I did last season.”
RONJA MARLENE WITT (GER) – debut at an IFSC World Cup
"It was really nice. When I came to the venue I was so excited as there were so many crazy people here and I climb the same route as them, and that was exciting. I will compete against people I have only ever seen on TV or on the livestream, and now I wil compete against them. Like Janja Garnbret, it’s so inspiring, there are so many strong athletes."
News and updates about the event 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, Bilibili, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.
