2026 World Climbing Prague Lead Climbing: Annie Wins Double Gold

On June 7th, Prague hosted the 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing semi final and finals as it wraps up five fun filled days of back to back climbing in the disciplines of boulder and lead climbing. The events took place at the iconic Štvanice Stadium on Štvanice Island. The new venue provided a spectacular backdrop for the world’s top climbers as they competed in both the men’s and women’s lead climbing events.

The lead climbing routes tested athletes’ endurance, route-reading ability, and technical precision, pushing competitors to their limits on demanding walls that rewarded both strength and strategic decision-making. From standout performances and breakthrough results to dramatic podium finishes, the competition delivered excitement throughout the day.

Here’s a closer look at the key moments, highlights, and final results from the 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing competition.

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Men’s Lead Climbing

The 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing men’s competition delivered one of the biggest surprises of the season, as Indonesia’s Putra Tri Ramadani claimed the gold medal with a high point of 43. In doing so, Ramadani became the first Indonesian athlete to win a World Climbing Series gold medal in lead climbing, marking a historic achievement for both the climber and his nation.

Indonesia has long been recognized as a powerhouse in speed climbing, consistently producing world-class athletes who break records and regularly reach the podium. As a result, few would have predicted an Indonesian victory in lead climbing, making Ramadani’s performance all the more remarkable.

Ramadani climbed with confidence and composure throughout the final, ultimately outperforming a highly competitive field. Japan’s Neo Suzuki secured the silver medal with a score of 39, while Austria’s Jakob Schubert claimed bronze after reaching hold 37.

“This is the second final for me and also my first medal. So, obviously I’m very happy and hopefully I can do better again.” when asked about how he felt about the route he replied, “It was very difficult for me, especially in the top section. It was definitely difficult and made me pumped.”

-Putra Tri Ramadani, World Climbing interview

The result not only represents a breakthrough moment for Indonesian lead climbing but also highlights the growing depth and versatility of the nation’s climbing program. Ramadani’s historic victory at the 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing event will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the standout moments of the 2026 season.

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Women’s Lead Climbing

The 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing women’s semi-final delivered an impressive display of endurance, technique, and strength, with the United States’ Annie Sanders and South Korea’s Chaehyun Seo emerging as the top performers. Both climbers fell just short topping the route, finishing with identical scores of 46+ and setting up a highly anticipated final.

Leading into the finals, Sanders climbed early and immediately established herself as the athlete to beat. She became the first finalist to reach the headwall, moving into the lead with only one climber remaining. With just one minute left on the clock as she entered the final section of the route, Sanders faced increasing time pressure and shifted her focus from reaching the top to maximizing her score. Her run came to an end at hold 37, a mark that would ultimately prove difficult to match.

The final climber on the wall was Seo, who climbed with her trademark precision and efficiency through the lower sections of the route before confidently reaching the headwall. As the crowd watched in anticipation, the battle for gold came down to her final moves. Despite a strong effort, Seo was unable to reach Sanders’ high point, falling at hold 35 and securing the silver medal.

With Seo unable to surpass her score, Sanders claimed her second gold medal of the Prague competition, completing a remarkable double-gold performance across bouldering and lead. The victory also marked the third lead World Cup gold medal of her career and placed her among the select group of climbers who have achieved the rare feat of winning both disciplines at the same competition.

“[The final] was super fun. The route climbed very bouldery, which suits my style quite a bit. And I found the hand flip at the top, which led me to grab the crimp and take the win.”

Annie Sanders, World Climbing interview

Joining Seo and Sanders on the podium at the 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing event, was France’s Zelia Avezou who finished with a score of 31+, dropping just short of moving into the head wall. Following her in fourth place was Austria’s Jessica Pilz with a score of 30.

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Want to Watch the Event?

Missed the live broadcast of the event? No problem! Watch the full 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing 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.

• Lead Climbing Semi-Final
• Lead Climbing Final

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For more information pertaining to the 2026 World Climbing Prague lead climbing results, location, videos, images, etc., please visit the main event page. This event also featured women’s and men’s bouldering, which took place on June 5th and June 6th. Please check out the event page for further details about this event.