Sports Bulletin Report
Hachioji (Japan): French guy Mejdi Schalck lifted his second IFSC World Cup gold medal in his 11th World Cup appearance, which is going on in Hachioji, Japan, as the Hannes Van Duysen took silver for Belgium’s first ever World Cup medal in any discipline. He is only the second Belgian to make an IFSC Boulder World Cup final.
Mejdi Schalck (FRA) – Gold medallist
“I’m very happy with the gold as it’s been a big goal I have been training for over winter. I wanted to win a second medal to show myself I could do it."
On his friendship/rivalry with teammate Paul Jenft:
"We have trained together for about five or six years and the ‘rivalry’ pushes us on to the top. We push each other and it is a really good rivalry for the both of us.”
Hannes Van Duysen (BEL) – Silver medallist
"It's the first time for Belgium to get a medal so that’s pretty cool. It’s amazing to be here and every round was incredible for me. I was excited to be in the semi-final and then I didn’t have any pressure, so I just climbed how I wanted to and made the final. Then to end up on the podium is very crazy."
"I competed in a few World Cups last year, but I made a lot of silly mistakes, so it didn’t go that well. My positioning, the slabs weren’t really that good, but my training during the winter went really well and I found a better way to move on the boulders, and I think this was the key to break through in a senior event."
Paul Jenft (FRA) – Bronze medallist
"It’s a bit of a relief because all the finals I have done I always end up in fourth so it’s really cool to make the podium after three finals and three fourth places."
Joking about his teammate Mejdi Schalck:
"I’m happy but I’m also frustrated because Mejdi always beats me. But he pushes me to be stronger because he’s my friend and we train really well together."
