Dreamy conclusion to this year's sport climbing season

Dreamy conclusion to this year's sport climbing season - three medals from the World Championships in Seoul.

The Slovenian national team returned a few days ago from the World Championships in sport climbing and paraclimbing, which took place from September 20 to 28, 2025, in the South Korean capital Seoul. At the press conference, team members summed up the successful World Championships in terms of results, where they won as many as six medals.
The Slovenian national team returned a few days ago from the World Championships in sport climbing and paraclimbing, which took place from September 20 to 28, 2025, in the South Korean capital Seoul. At the press conference, team members summed up the successful World Championships in terms of results, where they won as many as six medals.

The main role was once again played by Janja Garnbret, who with a double title of world champion in lead and bouldering once again confirmed her dominance in sport climbing. Her success was complemented by young Rosa Rekar with a silver medal in lead, and in the finals, Jennifer Buckley also climbed in the bouldering event and Lučka Rakovec in lead. The Slovenian national team won three medals at this year's World Championships, increasing the total number of medals at World Championships to 26. Together with the three medals of Slovenian paraclimbers, Slovenia now has nine paraclimbing medals from World Championships in its collection. At the press conference after returning home, the best climbers, together with selector Gorazd Hren, summed up their thoughts after the World Championships and looked a bit towards the next season.

The selector and coach of the Slovenian national team in sport climbing, Gorazd Hren, evaluated the Slovenian haul from the World Championships: “I am very satisfied with the results and performances; the competitors did excellently. In lead, we know, three girls in the finals, which is an exceptional result in itself, in the end Janja wins and Rosa second, in the finals with excellent climbing also Lučka Rakovec. Unfortunately, Luka Potočar not quite as we expected, but let me emphasize that he climbed fantastically, unfortunately a mistake happened to him in the semifinals, he slipped and because of that there was no final. In bouldering the same, for the girls Janja wins, Jenny climbed excellently, made it to the finals, again an exceptional success. For the boys, we didn't achieve what we set out to do. Anže Peharc climbed at a very high level throughout the season, building form, but right at the World Championships his performances were not that good and unfortunately there was no expected final from which he could attack a medal.” He also spoke about the role of younger competitors at this year's championships: “The younger competitors climbed well all season and earned their places at the championships through performances in the World Cup. Already at World Cup races they showed that they successfully compete with the best and that was the reason they performed in Seoul. There, especially Rosa and Jenny showed that they belong to the absolute world top and excellently capitalized on their first appearance at the World Championships. For young competitors, this experience is of course very welcome and valuable; the World Championships are every two years and somehow not the same as the World Cup, which has more races every year. So good experience that the girls made good use of and I believe they took a lot from it.” The selector also looked towards the future: “I think the future of sport climbing is bright, especially for the girls we somehow maintain the tradition of exceptional successes and among the young someone is always coming. For the boys, we have some kind of gap and some work still awaits us, but I believe that the young can through the example and mentorship of Luka Potočar and Anže Peharc get insight that it is achievable and I believe that here too with hard work we will make a step forward.” Finally, he also said what awaits them in the coming months: “For us, the season is over, we are in a period of rest, if I can say so, we will take a break. Certainly, there are still some obligations ahead of us, the coaches need to sit down together, make a conclusion with the competitors and set how to proceed. Also my mandate for this year is expiring, we need to talk about how in the coming years, if we continue or change something.”

One of the most beautiful comebacks of this year's season is certainly the story of Lučka Rakovec, who spoke about her path back among the best: “The last two years have been very demanding, both physically and mentally, in between I almost gave up a few times. This year's season means a lot to me, many times I told myself that this is it, that this year I will see if my body still allows me to train at such a high level or not, and I am happy that I proved to myself that I can.” She also revealed her doubts that plagued her on this path: “Many times I doubted that I would ever return to competitions. Every time I started dealing with this question, I knew that I still want it, but still I didn't know if I would really succeed.” About the set goals and the outcome of the championships, she said: “For the World Championships I had two completely different wishes. First, to even go to the championships and complete it without any health problems, on the other hand I wanted a performance in the finals. Still, I would say that I didn't climb any route the best, but I am still satisfied with the outcome.” She also looked to the near future: “I admit that this season was very tiring for me, maybe mentally even more than physically, so first I need a little rest, vacation is next, then after a few weeks I return to training. There has been no planning for the future yet, but I admit that I am very interested in what the next season will bring.”

Rosa Rekar confirmed this year that she belongs among the young climbers who we will surely see among the best. After a series of final appearances at World Cup races, she reached the peak of the season at the World Championships in Seoul, where with excellent climbing she earned a silver medal and the title of world vice-champion in lead. She spoke about how she experienced her first senior championships: “Competing at the senior World Championships was a really special and unforgettable experience, for which I am very grateful. Since this was my first appearance at such a level, I was a bit nervous at the beginning of qualifications, but I managed to relax and enjoy every moment. I couldn't wish for a better conclusion to the competition, so the competition will forever remain in my memory.” To the question of when she felt she could reach the very top, she answered: “I think it wasn't just one moment but the entire experience. I started qualifications quite nervously, but I managed to climb the first route well, which gave me the feeling that I can compete with the best. The second and semifinal route didn't go as I wanted and I could have shown more, but despite the mistakes it was enough for qualification to the finals, which gave me additional confidence. In the finals, I found relaxation and the right rhythm and showed a good performance. It was there that I most felt that I am competitive with the best.” Satisfied, she emphasizes that it is the result of hard work: “This result means a lot to me, it's not just one good achievement, but an indicator of the progress of all trainings and experiences that I gained through the season. Therefore, it is really something special for me and on one hand I still don't fully realize that I succeeded. The result definitely exceeded my expectations, since before the start I didn't imagine that it was possible due to strong competition, at the same time I didn't want to burden myself with results. Of course, there was a hidden desire, but I didn't imagine that it could turn out so successfully.” At the end of the season, she also touched on plans for the future: “This year's season was quite long, so first a break and some rest from trainings and competitions await me. In addition, I would like to take time for climbing on rock, since during the season we almost never have the opportunity for that. I am already very looking forward to the next season, because the championships were a good provision for the future and gave me additional motivation and drive for the next season and further trainings.”

For Janja Garnbret, it was an extremely interesting and somewhat different season. She competed only in three competitions and showed her superiority in all three. She concluded the season in the most beautiful possible way, with two world champion titles, which she added to her rich collection – the counter of world titles stopped at number ten. She spoke about the feelings with which she traveled to the World Championships: “I traveled to Seoul well prepared and confident, with a clear goal. As I have said many times, I would be lying if I said that I am interested in anything other than gold medals. That I fulfilled the goal of course makes me extremely happy. First and foremost, I proved to myself again that I can, at the same time I put the dot on the i of the season, which was different from previous ones. I am used to the burden of winning and the expectation of victory and the associated pressures at every competition, but that doesn't mean the backpack is lighter. In reality, it is heavier. It always reminds me of everything I went through, all the victories and wonderful feelings. But as I have already said, pressure is also a privilege – this time I proved to myself again that I can carry it with me and win. I am grateful to the team that ensures I can be optimally prepared at the competition, relieves me of stress and constant thinking about climbing and the competition. These victories are not only mine, but also the victories of all who believe in me and stand by me.” About the significance of this year's titles, she said: “Given the expectations, my own and the public's, the pressure is always greater, and with that the success even sweeter. So the gold medals from Seoul have a special place in my collection. As said, it is almost taken for granted that I will win. At the same time, I also expect it from myself in a way. And when I succeed, I actually realize what a great victory it is.” She was also delighted with the success of her national team colleague: “It's exceptional. I think my reaction when Lučka told me that Rosa is silver says it all. Rosa had a very good season, she climbed well, built form, has the right competitive character and the medal is more than deserved. I am very happy for her and the entire team that we could celebrate her silver medal as well.” Finally, she looked back at the achievements of recent years: “It will take quite some time before I really realize what all I have achieved in these ten years. But at the same time, I don't want to think too much about it, because the story is far from over and there will be time for thinking about it. The fact is that in these years I have grown up, learned a lot, especially about myself, and always progressed in different areas, which makes me happiest.”

After the successful return from the World Championships in sport climbing, the heroines of the championships were ceremonially received at the Alpine Association of Slovenia. The president of the Alpine Association of Slovenia Jože Rovan and the head of the Sport Climbing Commission Marko Pogačar congratulated the climbers for their exceptional achievements and thanked them with symbolic attention. On behalf of the general sponsor, Prva Osebna zavarovalnica, the president of the board Nataša Hajdinjak symbolically rewarded the medal winners, Rosa Rekar and Janja Garnbret. She handed over a check for the competitive bonus to the national team selector Gorazd Hren as thanks for the top haul of the team at the World Championships in Seoul.

The Slovenian national team in sport climbing won three medals at this year's World Championships, increasing the total number of medals at World Championships to 26. Together with this year's three medals of Slovenian paraclimbers, Slovenia now has nine paraclimbing medals from World Championships in its collection.