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Canada’s Legendary Sean McColl Competing at IFSC Hamilton!

If climbing was a mainstream sport, Sean McColl would be one of the most famous athletes in Canada.

If climbing was a mainstream sport, Sean McColl would be one of the most famous athletes in Canada. His achievements on rock, where he has climbed 5.14d (Dream Catcher, Squamish & PuntX, Gorge du Loup) and V15 (Big Paw, Fontainbleau) would make him an important outdoor climber, but they are just a footnote to this 26-year-old’s meteoric career as one of the most successful comp climbers in history. This quiet and thoughtful climber, who plays piano and speaks French fluently, started climbing in his hometown of Vancouver at the age of ten and did his first comp only three months later. Since then, he has been crowned Junior World Champion multiple times, including both the lead and speed title in 2006, the only competitor to do so in the same year.

McColl’s success continued in open Adult competition, he took the Canadian Bouldering National title from 2007-2008 and 2010-2012. At World Cups, he built upon consistent performances to become a regular podium threat in both Lead and Bouldering competitions. Culminating in his (and Canada’s) first victory in 2011 at the Lead World Cup held in Kranj, Slovenia, a feat he repeated in Xining, China in 2012. In addition to his success at Lead competitions, McColl is equally competent in Bouldering World Cups. In addition to his five Bouldering National titles, McColl has made multiple podium appearances at Bouldering World Cup, and recently took his maiden victory in the event at Log Dragomar, Slovenia. McColl, who is currently living in Toulouse, France, is climbing very well this season, in addition to his World Cup Victory at Log Dragomar in Slovenia in May and, as well, first in the fiercely competitive French National Lead Competition in Late May. He is, therefore, a major threat in Hamilton, and is sure to receive outstanding support from the crowd.

Photo: Mammut
Photo: Mammut

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow, we will be looking at some of the rules and format of the upcoming comp.

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