Introducing the 2024 IFSC World Cup Commentators: New Year, New Guests

Matt Groom

Groom, a seasoned commentator with a wealth of knowledge and passion for climbing, took the reins as the main commentator for the 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup series. With his engaging style, insightful analysis, and deep understanding of the sport, Groom has earned a reputation for his ability to captivate audiences worldwide. Having commented on numerous climbing competitions, Groom brings his wealth of experience and infectious enthusiasm to every event.

Jinni Xia

Meet Jinni Xia, the dynamic host behind the captivating podcast, “That’s Not Real Climbing.” She uses her platform to invite listeners to explore the multifacted realm of climbing through insightful interviews and engaging storytelling.

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, she brings her passion for the vertical world and unique perspective to the climbing community. Yet, in the commentating box she came off as having low energy and giving less insightful feedback compared to other past co-commentators.

Andrea Chao [赵安露]

Andrea is from Shanghai, China and has been an avid climber for more than 10 years. With a passion for climbing, surfing, and travel, Andrea embodies the spirit of adventure and outdoor exploration.

She attended the Keqiao competition with her husband who is a sports physiotherapists. As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators and an active outdoor climber, Andrea is able to give her keen insights about climbing and allow listeners to learn more about the local climbing scene in China.

Staša Gejo

Staša Gejo is a well-seasoned Serbian professional climber who has won two Climbing World Championship bronze medals in Women’s Boulder.

Staša is a fan favorite for many listeners. She is a frequent co-commentator who always brings her honest, heartfelt, and knowledgeable approach of climbing. Being one the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators has allowed her to continue to delight listeners with her appreciation for the sport and her warm energy.

Lukas Knapp

Lukas Knapp is a seasoned professional speed climber for the Austria Climbing team. He is a three time national champion and European Games gold medalist.

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, his commentary style is characterized by his passion for the sport and his ability to articulate the nuances of speed climbing in a way that resonates with both seasoned climbers and newcomers alike.

Helen Gillett

Helen is a Boston-based professional climber from America who participates in boulder competitions for the USA climbing team after finishing first in boulder at the 2024 national team trials.

Despite it being her first time co-commentating, she vibed very well with Matt Groom (the host) as one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators. Helen was able to be both articulate and entertaining while she gave her insight into the sport, making the experience more relatable and immersive for the listeners.

Mattea Pötzi

Mattea Pötzi is a professional climber who participates in both lead and boulder competitions for the Austria Climbing team. She is also an active outdoors climber who loves to spend her free time on rock.

As one of the 2023 IFSC World Cup Commentators, Pötzi brings her knowledge of competitive climbing to her commentating. Furthermore, giving insight into the technique, strategies and performance involved in the sport.

Alannah Yip

Alannah Yip is a Canadian professional rock climber who started climbing at the age of 6 and by 12 she became a National Champion. Her most notable accomplishment has been winning the 2020 Pan American Championships in women’s combined, which allowed her to represent Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games [placing 14th in women’s combined].

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, she always brings a warm personality and her unique perspective as a professional climber to every comp. Alannah’s genuine reactions make her very relatable to viewers as they share in her *gasps* at impressive moves.

Alex Honnold

Alex is a professional rock climber who is best known for his free-solo ascents of America’s biggest cliffs. He is most recognized for his free-solo of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup Commentators, Alex Honnold is characterized as a great bridge between outdoor and indoor climbing. He brings his genuine opinion and expertise, matched with a great sense of humour, that always makes for a more interesting comp for viewers.

Nika Potapova

Nika is a professional rock climber from Keiv, Ukraine. She has been climbing since a young age and achieved many competitive and outdoor climbing goals. For example, she took first place at the 2019 IFSC Youth World Championship in lead.

Potapova is no stranger to being a commentator for the Innsbruck World Cup, as she was also a co-commentator for the 2023 event. As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, she continues to bring a unique perspective and valuable insights as an accomplished climber to the live broadcast.

Benjamin Vargas Martínez

Benjamin is a professional rock climber from Chile. He won the Pan American Championship in 2021 and was the first person from Chile to make an IFSC World Cup men’s Boulder semi-final.

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, he brings his insights as an accomplished climber to the live broadcast.

Valissya May

Valissya May is a 17-year-old climber from Bulgaria. She currently ranks 7th in Europe and 11th worldwide in the under-18 category of sport climbing.

Overall, she has made a great addition to the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, as she brings a very lively energy to the commentator box. Her excitement and enthusiasm while watching the other climbers really shines through as she naturally converses with the main host.

Hamish McArthur

McArthur is a professional climber from England. One of his biggest accomplishments in the world of competitive sport climbing, was achieving the bronze medal in men’s lead climbing at the 2021 Climbing World Championships in Moscow.

As one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, he has brought a lot of knowledge and insight to the commentary box. He is very articulate as he helps viewers understand what the competitors may be thinking as they are scaling the wall.

Joshua Bruyns

Joshua Bruyns is a South African speed climber, who has previously participated in both lead and boulder competitions at the World Cup level. He qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics by taking first place at the 2023 IFSC Speed African Olympic Qualifiers.

Bruyns is not only the first South African climber to join the group of 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators, but the first to ever join commentary box. Audiences reaction to his commentary was positive and they hope to see him again soon.

Campbell Harrison

Harrison is a professional climber from Melbourne, Australian who has two National Championship gold medals in Men’s Lead and Combined.

Making his way back into the the commentators box to be one of the best 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators we have seen so far was Campbell Harrison. He always brings a level of professionalism and insight that always makes for a more interesting comp for viewers.

Eugenie Lee

Eugenie Lee is a climber and model from London, England. She has participated in national and international climbing competitions since she joined the British Juniors at age 13.

Lee has a very calm voice, but is still quite a lively commentator. She brings her knowledge of behind-the-scenes of the climbing competition to the commentating box and makes some knowledgeable observations during the competition that help viewers be more engaged.

Julia Fiser

Julia Fiser is a professional climber who is apart of the Austria Climbing Team. She specializes in lead climbing, but also has a strong passion for outdoor climbing.

Fiser makes a great addition as one of the 2024 IFSC World Cup commentators. She is very comfortable chatting with the main host and conveying her opinion about the comp, route, and techniques used by the climbers.