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What is sports climbing? It is the competitive version of rock climbing, usually performed on an indoor climbing wall, where the climbing space can be standardized. In this sport, safety is ensured, and it is more spectator friendly. Climbing is a very athletic sport, which involves a high amount of concentration, dedication, and physical/mental strength.

There are two major forms of climbing, outdoor or rock climbing, and indoor climbing done on a climbing wall. Competitive climbing is performed on a climbing wall, and there are three types - Lead Climbing, Speed Climbing, and Bouldering.

In Lead Climbing, the objective is to climb a route within a pre-determined timeframe, with the climbers that climb the farthest declared as the winners. In Speed Climbing, the objective is to climb the entire route in the fastest time possible. In Bouldering, competitors attempt to climb a wall within a minimum number of movements.

indoor wall climbing

Sports Climbing at the World Games

Sports Climbing is one of the popular spectator sports at the World Games. What makes it a fascinating sport to spectators is the agility and speed achieved by the athletes in every game.

In this sport, climbers ascend a vertical wall, 15 meter high, which is fitted with hand and foot holds. There were three categories of this event at The World Games for both men and women - Relay, Single, and Single 4.

There are two identical parallel routes on the wall for Single with two athletes competing simultaneously. However, in the Single 4 and Relay category, there are four identical routes for four athletes.

The goal for the Speed discipline is to be the fastest to reach the top of the 15m wall. Athletes compete against each other with the goal of the fastest times moving on to the next round from Qualification, and also beating your opponents in the final round to take a medal.

Sports Climbing made its World Games debut at the 2005 Duisburg World Games, with just two disciplines - Lead and Speed Climbing. Subsequently, it featured at the 2009 Kaohsiung World Games, the 2013 Cali World Games, the 2017 Wroclaw World Games, the 2022 Birmingham World Games, and the 2025 Chengdu World Games. 

Here are the medalists who won gold at the end of the 2025 Chengdu Sports Climbing event:

More Information

• The Types of Sport Climbing
• Climbing Equipment
• About Climbing at the Olympics
• A young person's review of Olympic Sport Climbing

Related Pages

• Climbing made it's debut at the Olympic Games in 2021

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