Sport Climbing World Cup 2023 Innsbruck: Japan goes 1-2 in men's boulder with Anraku Sorato claiming first win
Anraku Sorato, just 16 years old, captured his first World Cup gold in a close-as-can-be men's final. Narasaki Meichi took silver, with Sam Avezou of France claiming bronze.
Sport Climbing
The final boulder competition at a IFSC Sport Climbing World Cup this season gave fans a glimpse at generation next.
Anraku Sorato, just 16, claimed his first World Cup title in Innsbruck, Austria, on Friday (16 June), the teenager topping three of the four final boulders to hold off a challenge from teammate Narasaki Meichi.
Narasaki also topped three boulders, but needed more attempts - 15 to 11 - than his Japanese compatriot.
France's Sam Avezou won bronze with two tops in four attempts.
Anraku was third at the Youth World Championships last year in boulder, while taking the title in lead. He won silver in Salt Lake City last month, with fifth-place finishes at both Hachioji to open the year and in Brixen, Italy, just last week.
"I'm happy... just happy," Anraku said in halting English on the IFSC broadcast. "I did my best this season."
Anraku's win helped him leap to the top of the season standings in boulder, as well.
Narasaki's silver is his first podium at a boulder World Cup since 2017. He was fourth in Brixen just last week. It's a first World Cup podium for Avezou, the 22-year-old Frenchman.
There are several more IFSC World Cups this climbing year, but this was the last to be held in the bouldering discipline. On Thursday (15 June), Olympic champion Janja Garnbret won her first gold of the season after a toe injury interrupted her year.
Innsbruck will hold lead competitions on Saturday and Sunday, as well. You can watch those livestreams here on Olympics.com.