Sports Bulletin Report
Salt Lake City (USA):-The fourth part of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup Series 2022 closed in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, where a loud and warm crowd fought the adverse weather and enjoyed the women’s and men’s Boulder finals.
Entering the round with an unusual fourth seed, Natalia Grossman was the only athlete able to solve all four boulders in the women’s event, including a decisive flash on the fourth and most challenging one. The 20-year-old from Boulder won the third consecutive gold medal of her stellar season, also strengthening her position at the top of the current Boulder World Cup ranking.
Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Nonaka Miho of Japan finished second, winning silver with three tops and four zones. Grossman close friend and teammate Brooke Raboutou completed the podium in third position, taking bronze with three tops, four zones, and only one attempt-to-top more than Nonaka.
“I had no idea what to expect coming into this weekend, I wanted to make another back-to-back happen, but I wasn’t sure,” said Grossman after the final. “There were so many points I wanted to give up in this round, I thought it was over after the first boulder, and it was hard to stay positive, but I made it.”
Team Japan secured the third Boulder World Cup gold medal out of four events in 2022, with the third different climber: after Narasaki Tomoa and Fujii Kokoro respectively won gold in Meiringen, Switzerland, and Seoul, South Korea, Ogata Yoshiyuki jumped on the highest step of the podium in Salt Lake City, claiming his third career World Cup gold.
“This year I placed second in the first World Cup, then again third in Seoul, and second here last week, I was dreaming of taking the top of the podium and I’m very happy it finally happened!” commented Ogata.
Fujii completed the podium in third position, taking bronze with four tops, four zones, and a highest number of attempts to top than Ogata and Peharc.
Just outside of the medal positions, South Korean Olympian Chon Jongwon placed fourth with three tops and four zones, while Kawamata Rei, also representing Japan, took fifth place with three and three.
Competing in his first-ever World Cup final round, Ross Fulkerson of the United States of America closed in sixth place with two tops and four zones.
