Tomoa Narasaki and Veddriq Leonardo, two of the most accomplished sport climbers in the world, continue to make a name for themselves in the climbing community. Both of them clinched their sixth World Cup gold medals in their respective disciplines on May 21, 2022, at the IFSC World Cup held in Salt Lake City, USA.
Tomoa Narasaki’s Dominant Display
Topping all four of the routes set and flashing three of them, Tomoa Narasaki, a three-time world champion and three-time boulder World Cup season champion, put on a dominant display. (Flash, in climbing terms, means getting to the top of a boulder on the climber’s first try.) Narasaki, who secured fourth place in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, led a remarkable Japanese 1-2 with 16-year-old Anraku Sorato coming in second, scaling all four boulders. Meanwhile, Toby Roberts, an 18-year-old from Team GB, took the third position after a grueling climb.
Veddriq Leonardo’s Remarkable Comeback
Veddriq Leonardo, the Indonesian veteran and the world record holder, won his second World Cup of the season in speed climbing, beating Wu Peng of China in the final. His 4.95 time was just shy of his 4.90 world record, set just a few weeks ago, marking his third consecutive title in Salt Lake. Leonardo’s teammate, Kiromal Katibin, won the bronze, denying home hopeful Samuel Watson a medal, with a time of 4.98.
Leonardo’s Victory On The Wall
” I’m very happy tonight, and I’m very grateful to get this win, my third,” said Leonardo, who defended his title in Salt Lake, having won his first-ever World Cup gold in SLC in 2021. Additionally, he bounced back from a disappointing fifth-place finish at his home World Cup a couple of weeks ago, adding another win to his impressive resume. Leonardo now has six World Cup wins in speed climbing, and the discipline will split into its own event at Paris 2024, climbing’s next Olympics appearance as a combined event at Tokyo 2020.
Newcomers Anraku and Roberts
Anraku Sorato and Toby Roberts, both teenagers, stood on the podium for the first time in their boulder climbing careers. The pair finished first and second in the lead climbing at the Youth World Championships in Dallas last year.
On the women’s side, American Natalia Grossman and Aleksandra Miroslaw, the world record holder in speed climbing, swept the boulder and speed events, respectively, on May 20.
Narasaki and Leonardo: The Climbing Legends
Tomoa Narasaki and Veddriq Leonardo have been climbing for years, perfecting their skills and enjoying the reward of their hard work. Narasaki, now 26, has been to the top of the podium numerous times, winning six World Cup gold medals and becoming a three-time world champion. Leonardo, the Indonesian phenom, holds the world record for speed climbing, and his six World Cup wins have cemented his legacy as one of the greatest climbers of all time.
Conclusion
Tomoa Narasaki and Veddriq Leonardo continue to be two of the most successful climbers in the world, with six gold medals each. With the debut of climbing as an event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the sport has seen a surge in popularity, giving athletes an opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage. Leonardo and Narasaki have capitalised on this opportunity brilliantly and have become climbing legends, inspiring young climbers worldwide. With multiple victories on the most challenging routes around the world, these two climbing legends have proved that dedication and hard work can lead to greatness.
