2023 IFSC World Championships Lead Climbing Winners: Records Broken

Day six of the 2023 IFSC World Championships in Bern, Switzerland was met with an unforgettable evening as records were broken and new 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners were awarded championship medals. The excitement grew throughout the day as the crowd watched the Lead semi-finals in the morning which was met with the Lead finals in the evening. The semi-finals showcased fierce competitiveness among the climbers that ended with nine women and ten men moving into the Lead finals to fight for the top of the podium.

2023 IFSC World Championships Lead Climbing Winners

Women’s Lead Final

Despite not being present for much of the World Cup circuit this year due to her studies, Japan’s Ai Mori is still at the top of her game. She showed an impressive performance in the women’s lead final by topping the finals route, which secured her place as one of the 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners.

Ai Mori was the last female climber to take to the wall, but she kept her composure and showed an exceptional display of endurance and strength as she topped the route. This gold medal marks a major feat for the young Japanese climber as she becomes the first Japanese climber to win a Lead World Championship.

“Before climbing I told myself to just enjoy it, so it was an exciting time. I knew maybe Janja got a top, so I knew I had too as well. I was nervous before, but now I’m happy.”

Ai Mori, IFSC

Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret is no stranger to the top of the podium but had to settle for second place despite also topping the finals route. The tie-breaker goes to Ai Mori who ranked higher than Garnbret during the semi-finals.

South Korea’s Seo Chaehyun joined the 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners podium by placing third with a score of 47+. As the 2021 World Championships women’s lead defending gold medalist all eyes were on her to regain her title. She fell short of reaching the championship title, but in the end, reached a new achievement in her climbing career with her second world championships medal.

Men’s Lead Final

The 2021 World Championships men’s lead defending gold medalist, Austria’s Jakob Schubert, has regained his title. This marks his fourth Lead world title, which sets a new record. Furthermore, this gold medal breaks records as he continues to own the record as the oldest world champion – man or woman.

“It means so much to challenge one of the craziest talents we have in the sport with Anraku Sorato. He is such an amazing climber and if I can teach him a thing or two it would make me so proud. Maybe I will tell my kids about it, I don’t have any now of course, but I can say I taught him a little bit and now he wins everything. You see also Toby [Roberts], super strong young climbers, coming out on top tonight ahead of them means so much to me.”

Jakob Schubert, IFSC

Among the 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners were Japan’s Anraku Sorato with silver and Germany’s Alexander Megos with bronze. Despite being a young climber, Anraku has proven himself against veterans like Schubert and Megos throughout the World Cup circuit. With a score of 48, just shy of a + to Schubert’s 48+, secured his place on the 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners podium.

Alexander Megos pulled ahead of South Korea’s Dohyun Lee with a score of 40, which placed him in third. This bronze medal marks his third Climbing World Championships medal.

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For more information about the event pertaining to the results, location, videos, images, and so on, please visit the 2023 IFSC World Championships Bern event page. The climbers among the 2023 IFSC World Championships lead climbing winners are not through yet, stay tuned for the World Championships combined event which will feature both lead and boulder disciplines.