2026 World Climbing Innsbruck Men’s Boulder: Sorato Makes History 5 for 5 Gold Medals

On June 19, the spotlight turned to Innsbruck, Austria, as the world’s best boulder climbers gathered for the 2026 World Climbing Innsbruck men’s boulder competition. Among the athletes attracting the most attention was Japan’s Sorato Anraku, who arrived in Innsbruck riding an extraordinary run of form and looking to extend his unbeaten streak with yet another World Cup gold medal.

Here’s a closer look at the key moments, highlights, and final results from the 2026 World Climbing Innsbruck men’s boulder competition.

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Men’s Boulder Semi-Final

The 2026 World Climbing men’s boulder semi-final in Innsbruck delivered an exciting and highly competitive round, providing plenty of entertainment for both athletes and spectators.

Japan’s Sorato Anraku produced a commanding performance to lead the eight finalists into the men’s boulder final. Anraku was the only climber in the field to top all four boulders, finishing the round with 99.7 points and firmly establishing himself as the athlete to beat heading into the final.

Also advancing was fellow Japanese climber Rei Kawamata, who finished second in the semi-finals with 84.9 points. After managing only a zone on the opening boulder, Kawamata responded with an impressive display of athleticism and composure, flashing each of the final three problems to secure his place in the final.

Great Britain’s Max Milne also booked a spot in the final, finishing on 84.8 points, while Japan’s Sohta Amagasa followed closely behind with 84.7 points to round out the leading contenders.

It was a particularly strong day for the Japanese team, with Anraku, Kawamata, and Amagasa all advancing to the final. Their performances highlighted Japan’s continued strength in international bouldering and set the stage for an exciting battle for medals in the men’s final.

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Men’s Boulder Final

Japan’s Sorato Anraku made history once again at the 2026 World Climbing Innsbruck men’s boulder final. By claiming victory in Innsbruck, Anraku extended his remarkable winning streak to five consecutive Boulder World Cup gold medals, having previously topped the podium in Keqiao, Bern, Madrid, and Prague.

The achievement makes Anraku the first male climber in history to win five consecutive World Climbing boulder events in a single season, further cementing his status as one of the sport’s most dominant athletes. Throughout the 2026 season, the Japanese star has displayed an extraordinary combination of consistency, composure, and problem-solving ability, remaining undefeated in every boulder competition he has entered.

Only one climber has ever recorded a longer consecutive World Climbing bouldering winning streak: Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret, who captured six straight gold medals during the 2019 season. With one World Climbing boulder comp remaining on the 2026 calendar—the season finale in Salt Lake City, USA, this October—Anraku now has the opportunity to match Garnbret’s historic mark and join one of the most exclusive clubs in competition climbing.

As the season reaches its conclusion, all eyes will be on Salt Lake City to see whether Anraku can continue his unprecedented run and further rewrite the record books.

“It’s an honor to climb in Innsbruck and I won! Amazing! Unbelievable! Every time I focus on the comp, which leads to winning the overall title.”

Sorato Anraku, World Climbing interview

Joining Sorato Anraku on the podium were fellow Japanese climber Rei Kawamata and South Korea’s Dohyun Lee, who both finished the final with 59.3 points. With the two athletes tied on score, the final ranking was determined by a countback to their semi-final results.

Kawamata was awarded the silver medal after placing second in the semi-finals, while Lee, who had advanced to the final in fifth place, claimed the bronze medal. The tie highlighted just how closely contested the battle for the remaining podium positions was, with only the semi-final standings separating the two athletes after an intense final round in Innsbruck.

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Want to Watch the Event?

Missed the live broadcast of the event? No problem! Watch the full 2026 World Climbing Innsbruck men’s boulder competition on YouTube through the World Climbing channel. The broadcast features complete coverage of the women’s and men’s lead climbing semi finals and finals, allowing fans to relive the standout moments, impressive display of athleticism, and podium winning performances.

• Men’s Boulder Semi-Final
• Men’s Boulder Final

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For more information pertaining to the 2026 World Climbing Innsbruck men’s boulder results, location, videos, images, etc., please visit the main event page. This event also feature men’s and women’s lead climbing, which will take place over the weekend from June 20th to 21st. Please check out the event page for further details about this event.