Exciting Lead Finals Bring IFSC World Youth Climbing Championships to a Close

Central Saanich, BC – The 2013 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) 2013 World Youth Climbing Championships came to a close Monday night with the exciting finals of the lead competition and unlike the speed competition that was dominated by the Russians on Sunday, medals in lead were distributed to climbers from a variety of countries.

Leading the pack was Team Japan, who took away four medals in total including Gold medals from Aika Tajima in the Female Youth B category and Naoki Shimatani in the Male Youth A category. Also in that category Shinichiro Nomura won a Silver Medal, while Oba Miwa took home Bronze in the Female Youth B category.

The Austrians also took home four medals, with Jessical Piltz in Female Youth A and Magdalena Rock in Female Junior taking home Gold. Katharina Posch would join Rock on the podium in Female Junior earning a Silver medal, while Bernhard Rock would win Bronze in Male Youth A.

Team France would take home three medals, with Hugo Parmentier winning Silver in Male Youth B, while teammates Manon Hily (Female Junior) and Julia Chanourdie (Female Youth A) would win Bronze.

Next up was Team Germany with two Silver medals, the first from Emillie Gerhardt in Female Youth B and the second from the colourful Sebastian Halenke in Junior Male.

Securing the final two Gold Medals of the evening were Italy’s Stefano Carnati in Male Youth B and Russia’s Dmitry Fakiryanov in Junior Male.

Other countries joining in the medal count included: Switzerland, as Sascha Lehmann would win Bronze in the Male Youth B category ; Belgium, with Anak Verhoeven winning Silver in the Female Youth A category; and Slovenia, with Domen Skofic taking home Bronze in the Junior Male category.

This was the first time that the 2013 World Youth Climbing Championships were hosted in North America and by all accounts it was an unparalleled success. Over 500 people each day (2000 in total) attend the event and were treated to an exciting weekend of climbing from the 474 athletes in the competition.

Note: Web resolution photos of all the winners, including the speed winners will be available on the Boulders Climbing Gym Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bouldersclimb. High resolution photos are available on request.

Team Canada coaches Denis Mimeault, Dung Nguyen, Stacey Weldon and Sean McColl

About the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC)

The International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) was created in 2007 and is a non-governmental international association with a non-profit-making purpose of international interest. The principal purposes of the IFSC are the direction, regulation, promotion, development and furtherance of international climbing competitions (Lead, Speed and Boulder). The IFSC fosters links, networks, and friendly relations among its members, their climbers and officials. The IFSC is recognised by the IOC and is member of ARISF, SportAccord and IWGA. For more details, please visit the IFSC web page at http://www.ifsc-climbing.org

About the Boulders Climbing Gym
The Boulders Climbing Gym is a not-for-profit society, with the mandate of making climbing accessible for everyone, regardless of ability or ability to pay. With over 13,000 square feet (1,208 square metres) of climbing space, The Boulders Climbing Gym is a community facility and a unique social enterprise, providing adaptive recreation and rehabilitation programs, youth recreational and competitive programs, as well as facilitating a climbing academy at Stelly’s Secondary School. All instructors are certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides. See www.climbtheboulders.com for more details.

Photos of the winners: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.568837336507512.1073741835.121491861242064&type=1