IFSC Youth World Championships Voronezh 2021

Ten days of climbing took place from 21 to 30 August in Voronezh, Russia, where 417 athletes representing 37 different nationalities competed at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) Youth World Championships.

Athletes contested across three age categories in Boulder, Lead, and Speed, with those participating in all three disciplines also being considered for a combined ranking.

In her debut international Sport Climbing competition, 14-year-old Anastasia (Annie) Sanders of the USA won not one, not two, but three gold medals. Sanders placed first in Youth B (athletes born 14 or 15 years before the year of competition) Lead and Boulder, in addition to taking the combined win for her stellar performance throughout the championships. The US climber topped every single Youth B route of the competition, was the only athlete to top all four blocs in the Boulder final – using only one attempt, or ‘flashing’, three of them – and narrowly missed out on a top 10 finish in Speed, settling for 11th place. A triple gold medal win marks a glittering start to Sanders’ career, pinning her as one-to-watch in future competitions.

Another noteworthy performance was that of Great Britain’s Hamish McArthur (19), who won a gold medal in both Boulder and Lead, as well as a combined silver medal. Competing in the Junior age category (athletes born 18 or 19 years before the year of competition), McArthur topped all four problems in the Boulder final with two flashes, and secured a top in Lead. The Brit also competed in Speed, putting him on the podium a third time for a combined medal.

In the Youth A competition (athletes born 16 or 17 years before the year of competition), Slovenia’s Sara Copar (16) took the win in Lead and placed second in Boulder. Copar also made the quarter final in Speed, setting her in first position in the overall combined ranking and leaving the Slovenian with two gold medals and one silver.

Those who ranked first in the Junior and Youth A categories of Boulder, Lead, and Speed are eligible for a place to compete at the World Games 2022 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. A total of six quota places will be allocated following the invitation and confirmation of the IFSC and respective National Federations in early 2022, as per the IFSC Qualification System for the World Games.

Argentina's Zoe Garcia Molina (17), Lana Bakić (15) of Croatia, Luke Goh Wen Bin (18) of Singapore, and Thailand's Poksakon Chotikkrai (18) were each the sole athlete to represent their country in the championships.

Anastasia Sanders of the USA
Photo: Jan Virt/IFSC

Hamish McArthur of Great Britain
Photo: Jan Virt/IFSC

Sara Copar of Slovenia
Photo: Jan Virt/IFSC