Sports Bulletin Report
Briancon (France):-The French city of Briancon is set to stage the fourth Lead competition of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup Series 2022 this weekend, from 22 to 23 July. It is the twelfth consecutive year that an IFSC World Cup has been hosted in Briancon, with the city holding the sole World Cup during a pandemic-stricken 2020 season.
A total of 185 athletes including 102 men and 83 women will compete in Lead at the Parc des Sports over the next two days, representing 34 different countries and territories. After claiming the win earlier this month in Chamonix, France, Olympians Janja Garnbret, of Slovenia, and Adam Ondra, of the Czech Republic, will be vying for another medal in Briançon. In fact, Olympic gold medallist Garnbret has been triumphant in all three Lead World Cups so far this season, having missed the Boulder World Cups Switzerland to focus on training for Lead. Ondra also took a break from the competition circuit at the start of the season, making a victorious return in Chamonix two weeks ago.
Japan’s Homma Taisei took the silver medal in Chamonix, having won his first World Cup gold in Villars, Switzerland, just one week prior. Could the Japanese climber add another medal to his collection this weekend? Athletes from Team USA are also strong contenders for the men’s podium, with Olympian Colin Duffy – who made history in Innsbruck, Austria, this season by becoming the first male to win Boulder and Lead at the same competition – Jesse Grupper, and Sean Bailey all earning at least one medal in Lead so far in 2022.
Italian Olympian Laura Rogora stepped onto the second step of the podium in Chamonix, claiming a silver medal. Having won her first World Cup gold at the IFSC Lead World Cup Briancon 2020, could Rogora regain her position atop the podium on Saturday? Fellow Olympians Seo Chaehyun, of South Korea, and Brooke Raboutou, of the USA, are also ones to watch in the women’s event, with each earning two medals so far this Lead season.
