Watch Natalia Grossman Go For Gold

Making its second, consecutive appearance on the IFSC World Cup Series circuit, the city of Brixen, in the northeastern region of Italy, hosts the sixth event of the season – the fifth competition in the Boulder discipline. The IFSC summed up the semis round in a press release on June 10.

When you talk about IFSC World Cup Boulder in recent history, the name Natalia Grossman tends to pop up. In the IFSC World Cup Brixen semi-finals, the name is mentioned yet again. The American climber once again showed her Boulder prowess topping all four problems, and with it topping the semi-final standings. It’s hard not to look at Grossman as a favourite in northern Italy when the finals get underway later this evening.

Another climber with four tops in semis was South Korea’s Seo Chaehyun. Despite taking less attempts than her American rival on W1, the tables turned on W4 as Grossman flashed and Seo attempted three times. Following the top two is Serbia’s Stasa Gejo who has looked on great form through the two rounds so far in Brixen, evident through her emotions that she freely shows. Gejo topped three boulders alongside Israel’s Ayala Kerem, who despite a flash on W2 had more attempts overall to sit fourth. Australia’s Oceania Mackenzie said before the event even started that she was disappointed to miss out on finals the previous week at IFSC World Cup Prague. The Aussie climber rectified that disappointment by advancing in fifth position.

Mackenzie said: “I mean what can I say, I’m super excited to be in finals tonight, and enjoy the amazing atmosphere here in Brixen. Ready to try my hardest alongside some amazing women.” The last finals spot went to Austria’s Johanna Färber who had a near identical scorecard to Mackenzie. Both flashed W1 and W2. Both had one attempt for the zone on W3. But on W4 Mackenzie had one attempt to Färber’s two.

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Women’s Finals