Return to the IFSC* World Cup 2011

Austin, TX resident Joseph Gifford is proving that he is a world competitorin rock climbing. Earlier this month, seventeen year old Gifford crushed the competition at the Youth National Championships which were held in Atlanta, GA. Coming from 3rd place Joseph put in an epic climb to win in the finals and take home the US National Championship title. As the National Champion, Gifford headed across the “pond” to Europe with three other US Youth National Team members to climb and train at some of Europe’s most challenging spots. Gifford and the rest of the US National Team will compete against the best adult professional climbers in the world at IFSC World Championships in Arco, Italy which is considered Europe’s most advanced testing ground in competitive sport climbing. After Italy, they will compete in another IFSC World Cup competition which will take place in Briancon, France. At the end of August, the US Team concludes their trip in Imst, Austria where they will compete in the IFSC Youth World Championships. As the top US youth climber, Gifford hopes to compete well against the best climbers in the world in Europe and gain valuable experience in his quest to become an Olympic althlete.

Sport Climbing Shortlisted for the 2020 Olympic Games

The IOC Executive Board recently announced that sport climbing has been shortlisted for the 2020 Olympic Games along with seven other sports. Only one spot is up for grabs and sport climbing is in the running against baseball, karate, roller sports, softball, squash, wakeboard and wushu.It won’t be easy nor can anything be taken for granted, but this is certainly great news which takes into account the recent progress and credibility of the competition climbing movement. The final decision will made during the IOC meeting in Buenos Aires in 2013.

July 21, 2011

*International Federation of Sport Climbing

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