Gripped Magazine
USA Wins 12 Medals at Para Climbing World Championships
The IFSC Para Climbing World Championships concluded in Seoul, Korea, crowning champions across 19 sport classes. Of the 50 U.S. athletes competing, 18 advanced to the finals, and 12 won medals—three more than the nine earned at the previous championships in Bern.
B Sport Classes: Seneida Biendarra claimed gold in the women’s B2 event, upgrading from her silver in Bern. Linn Poston won gold in the women’s B3 category in her first World Championships, with Phoebe Barkan taking silver in the same event. Other competitors included Emeline Lakrout (4th, women’s B1), Andrew Martinez (6th, men’s B3), Gordon Fralick (7th, men’s B3), Mandi Curtis (7th, women’s B3), and Paige Trotter (9th, women’s B3).
RP Sport Classes: Brayden Butler won gold in the men’s RP2 event, his first World Championships podium. “I’m so happy I got the opportunity to come out here and show what I have been training for,” said Butler. “Yes, it’s about trying to win, but it’s also about showing the para climbers and RP2 climbers can climb hard and display strength—that’s my goal.” Melissa Ruiz secured gold in the women’s RP1 event, her first World Championships gold after a steady climb from 12th in 2019 to first. Hannah Zook won bronze in the same category, her first World Championships podium. Emily Seelenfreund took gold in the women’s RP2 event, her first at an IFSC event, saying, “To be World Champion is surreal. I want to be my best self on the wall, and I feel like I was today.” Nat Vorel earned silver in the women’s RP3 category.
Other competitors included Jackie Stewart (5th, women’s RP1), Tiffany Yu (7th, women’s RP1), Paul Martin (7th, men’s RP1), Joshua Unterman (16th, men’s RP1), Connor King (17th, men’s RP1), Ruchir Khaitan (18th, men’s RP1), Megan Gleason (4th, women’s RP2), Ben Mayforth (4th, men’s RP2), Johnny Quintana (5th, men’s RP2), Jeffrey Mellenthin (6th, men’s RP2), Mark Jourdian (12th, men’s RP3), Deva Ramireddy (14th, men’s RP3), and Lindsay Purcell (6th, women’s RP3).
AU Sport Classes: Brian Zarzuela won bronze in the men’s AU2 category, his third World Championships podium, while Ellie Rubin took bronze in the women’s AU2 category, her first. Other competitors included Matthew Lynch (11th, men’s AU2), Dylan Retsek (12th, men’s AU2), Isabel Benvenuti (5th, women’s AU2), Josephine Fouts (8th, women’s AU2), Elise Morley (13th, women’s AU2), Mason Keough (4th, men’s AU3), and Benen Parlmer (7th, men’s AU3).
AL Sport Classes: Corey Ramos and Daliya Hansen won bronze in the men’s and women’s AL2 categories, respectively, both in their World Championships debuts. Other competitors included Lee Shaffer (5th, men’s AL2), Ethan Zilz (6th, men’s AL2), Chase Christiansen (18th, men’s AL2), Morgan Loomis (8th, women’s AL2), Kaitlyn Truscott (10th, women’s AL2), Hannah McFadden (12th, women’s AL2), Tanner Cislaw (5th, AL1), Brittany Chadbourne (10th, AL1), Carlie Cook (11th, AL1), Garrison Redd (12th, AL1), Carlos Quiles (13th, AL1), and Andrea Wilson (14th, AL1).
Para Climbing will be at the LA28 Paralympic Games with eight medal events and a total of 80 athletes – 40 men and 40 women.
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