The second International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) European Qualifier of the season is kicking off today in Laval, France, around 250 kilometers west of Paris. And to Paris, the gold medallists in the men’s and women’s Boulder & Lead events will travel back in a few months, thanks to the Olympic quotas at stake at the event.
Organised at Espace Mayenne, the IFSC European Qualifier Laval 2023 will see the participation of 56 athletes – 26 women and 30 men – representing 19 European countries.
Climbing on home soil, French talent Oriane Bertone will be the highest-ranked athlete in the women’s Boulder & Lead event participating in Laval, and surely one of the contenders for first place. The French female team will also include Manon Hily, Hélène Janicot, and Zelia Avezou.
Slovenian duo Vita Lukan and Mia Krampl – respectively ranked 10th and 11th in the world – and Israel’s Ayala Kerem will also be among the ones to watch.
Three-time World Cup gold medallist Mejdi Schalck will headline the pack of four French climbers battling in the men’s event – also including Sam Avezou, Paul Jenft, and the reigning Boulder world champion Mickael Mawem.
Czech Republic’s Adam Ondra, Germany’s Alexander Megos, and Great Britain’s Toby Roberts will be three non-French climbers entering the stage with the highest world ranking position in the Boulder & Lead discipline.
Earlier this year, three tickets to the Paris Olympics have been awarded at the IFSC World Championships in Bern, Switzerland – to Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, Japan’s Ai Mori, and Austria’s Jessica Pilz in the women’s event; to Austria’s Jakob Schubert, USA’s Colin Duffy, and Japan’s Tomoa Narasaki in the men’s event.
The IFSC European Qualifier Laval 2023 will commence today with the women’s Boulder & Lead qualification round – Boulder phase starting at 9:00 (UTC+2:00), and Lead phase starting at 16:00. Live results will be available here
Semi-finals and finals will be live streamed on the IFSC YouTube channel. Geo blocking restrictions might be applied.
Updates and news about the event will be available on the IFSC website , and on the Federation digital channels: Facebook , Instagram , X , LinkedIn , and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin and Weibo
Oriane Bertone will be one of the eight French climbers representing the home country in LavalPhoto: Lena Drapella/IFSC