Olympic champions lead the way as IFSC climbing worlds open in Seoul

The 2025 IFSC Climbing World Championships began in Seoul on Monday with Tokyo 2020 Olympic champions Janja Garnbret of Slovenia and Alberto Gines Lopez of Spain both topping their qualification groups in the Lead discipline.

Garnbret and Gines Lopez were the only athletes to secure double tops across their two routes, underlining their form as they aim to add another world crown to their profile.

Laura Rogora of Italy competes during the women's lead final at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria, June 29, 2025. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

In the women's field, Britain's Erin McNeice was the only other competitor to top a route, finishing second in qualification. Annie Sanders of the United States took third.

China's Zhang Yuetong delivered an impressive performance to place fifth, reflecting on lessons learned from her opening climb. "I hadn't really prepared that well on the first route," Zhang told IFSC official website. "I don't think I warmed up enough and I climbed too fast. The second route was more my style, so that went better."

Her teammate Luo Zhilu, finishing 21st, also advanced to the semifinals.

On the men's side, Japan's Neo Suzuki and Satone Yoshida shared the second behind Gines Lopez, while prodigy Sorato Anraku also became one of the six Japanese climbers into the semifinals.

Pan Yufei, the first Chinese climber to win a World Cup title in Bern, Switzerland, booked a spot in the semifinals in 15th place.

South Korea added four semifinalists, with Lee Do-hyun the best-placed in seventh. The home crowd had more to cheer when Kwon Kibeom dramatically claimed the final qualifying spot in 24th, eliminating Britain's reigning world champion and Paris 2024 gold medalist Toby Roberts in the process.

Boulder qualifications are scheduled for Tuesday, while the Lead semifinals and finals are set for Friday.