McColl wasn’t the only one, as regaining world champion Romain Desgranges was also penalized.
On Instagram, McColl questioned the rule and judging after it appeared Adam Ondra touched the banner as well, but was never penalized.
Yes, all of this would have been avoided if the banner was not on the wall and if the route setters didn’t make a move where you might touch the logo.
In the IFSC, if you touch anything on a wall that is not part of the route, you are deducted points.
McColl has been an IFSC Athlete Representative for years had over 10,000 followers on Instagram agree with him.
McColl asked and was hoping for IFSC “to admit the signage was placed poorly and remove the down-score from any affected athlete. This would qualify both Romain and myself for semis.”
Adam Ondra backed McColl and defended him against any naysayers and sait, “Going into semifinals very and getting psyched, but I am really sad that McColl and Desgranges did not make the semifinals which will not be as packed as it could be without these two legends.”
Ondra also shared a video that shows him near the banner in question and not using it. Of course, if anyone really touched it or not is up for debate base on the video footage.
Nevertheless, due to Ondra’s score even if he was penalized he would have made it to semifinals no problem.