Four different nations climbed on the highest step of the Lead European podium at this year’s second Youth Cup in the discipline.
On 13 and 14 September, the Youth European Cup circuit stopped in Imst, Austria – one of the most beautiful venues of the European calendar, nested in a panoramic setting. The city welcomed 192 young athletes from 22 nations for the first youth European event since the Championships in Žilina, Slovakia.
AUSTRIA, GERMANY, GREAT BRITAIN, AND SWITZERLAND TAKE GOLD
With two age categories competing, U17 and U19, the weekend featured several familiar names returning to the podium.
Swiss 16-year-old Julia Rasmussen took gold in the women’s U17 final with a dominant performance, stepping on an IFSC podium for the first time in her career. In the men’s final of the same age category, home favourite Christian Leitner placed first for Austria.
In the women’s U19 final, a tie at the top added drama to the result, with the gold medal ultimately decided by countback to the qualification round and awarded to Fae MacDougall of Great Britain.
Youth European champion Luca Nündel of Germany added another U19 title to his collection, triumphing in Imst after taking gold in Žilina.
ALL THE PODIUMS
Women’s U17 Lead:
- Julia RASMUSSEN (SUI)
- Rafael KAZBEKOVA (UKR)
- Aina VILA CANTERO (ESP)
Men’s U17 Lead:
- Christian LEITNER (AUT)
- Yanik CHASSAIN (SUI)
- Andrea Ludovico CHELLERIS (ITA)
Women’s U19 Leed:
- Fae MACDOUGALL (GBR)
- Lana GORIC (SLO)
- Julia BENACH ZUBERO (ESP)
Men’s U19 Lead:
- Luca NÜNDEL (GER)
- Riccardo VICENTINI (ITA)
- Gianluca VIGHETTI (ITA)
NEXT UP
The final two stages of the Youth European Cup calendar will both take place in France: first in Laval, France, from 24 to 26 October, then in Toulouse Tournefeuille, from 31 October to 2 November.
All semi-finals and finals at European events will be live streamed on the IFSC Europe YouTube channel. News and updates will be available on the IFSC website and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Bilibili, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.
