Paris 2024 Olympics: Sport climbing preview, full schedule, and how to watch live
Sport climbing will look very different at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, compared to the sport's debut at Tokyo 2020.
A total of 68 athletes, up from 40, will compete at the Le Bourget climbing venue from 5-10 August.
The combined competition three years ago has been replaced by two separate medal competitions per gender: a Speed competition, and another for Boulder & Lead.
Both reigning Olympic champions in Janja Garnbret (women) and Alberto Gines (men) will take part, alongside plenty of exciting challengers that excelled during the inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Budapest and Shanghai this year.
Below, we take a closer look at the sport climbing stars to watch out for in Paris, a full schedule, and how to watch the action.
Sport climbing Boulder & Lead stars to watch at Paris 2024 Olympics
Where else to start than with Slovenian superstar Janja Garnbret? The eight-time world champion and reigning Olympic gold medallist has simply dominated the sport, and is the heavy favourite to win the Boulder & Lead gold medal.
She didn't not need to compete at the OQS competitions, having already qualified for Paris 2024. In her absence, U.S. prodigy Brooke Raboutou won first place accross the two legs to announce herself as a gold medal threat.
Also keep an eye out for Japan's Olympic silver medallist Nonaka Miho, who showed that she hasn't lost any of her prowess with a second-place finish at OQS.
In the men's Boulder & Lead, rejuvinated Spanish Olympic champion Alberto Gines showed that he still has what it takes to compete at the top table with second place at the OQS, just behind surprised winner, Dohyun Lee (Republic of Korea), who will also be quietyly confident.
Elsewhere, multiple world champion Adam Ondra, Japan's 17-year-old sensation Sorato Anraku, Olympic bronze medallist and six-time world champ Jakob Schubert, and U.S. star Colin Duffy will make for a compelling spectacle.
Sport climbing Speed stars to watch at Paris 2024 Olympics
There has never been a more exciting time on the Speed wall, with World Records being smashed consistently in the run up to the Games.
On the women's side, Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw set the World Record at Tokyo 2020, has lowered that mark seven times since then, and remains the favourite for gold.
Elsewhere, People's Republic of China’s Zhou Yafei sealed top spot at the OQS and could be an outside best for glory, while Miroslaw's compatriot, Aleksandra Kalucka, is in the best form of her life.
U.S. teenager Sam Watson is the men's gold medal favourite as the World Record holder, but will have his work cut out with previous World Record holder, Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia, landing several new Asian continental records en route to victory at OQS.
Italy's Matteo Zurloni, Frenchman Bassa Mawem, and Jinbao Long of China are also top contenders.
Full sport climbing schedule at Olympic Games 2024
Sport climbing is due to take place from 5-10 August during Paris 2024. Click here for a detailed schedule.
How to watch Paris 2024 sport climbing live
All the action from Paris 2024, including sport climbing, can be watched via media rights holders (MRHs).