Janja Garnbret youth world champion

Janja Garnbret youth world champion in sport climbing, Martin Bergant bronze among youths

At the youth world championship in lead and speed climbing, taking place in Nouméa, New Caledonia from September 19 to 24, Janja Garnbret as the only finalist reached the top of the route and became the new youth world champion in sport climbing in the older girls category. The success of the Slovenian youth national team was complemented by Martin Bergant with an excellent 3rd place.

The Slovenian colors under the watchful eye of the youth national team selector Anže Štremfelj in the capital of New Caledonia are represented by a quartet: three girls, Janja Garnbret (older girls), Katja Kadič (juniors) and Tjaša Slemenšek (older girls), and in the men's competition Martin Bergant in the youths category.

Garnbret youth world champion in lead In Saturday's lead qualifications all representatives qualified for the semi-final, Janja Garnbret and Martin Bergant shared first place with their co-climbers, Katja Kadič achieved the 5th qualification result, Tjaša Slemenšek the 13th. The semi-finals brought three-quarters success. Among the nine best, who advance to the final part of the competition, Janja Garnbret succeeded as the only competitor in the older girls category by reaching the top of the route and first place among competitors. Tjaša Slemenšek in the same category lacked two moves to advance to the final, more successful were Martin Bergant, who finished the semi-final third among youths, and Katja Kadič, seventh among juniors.

On Tuesday, September 22, Janja Garnbret as the only finalist reached the top of the route and thus literally swept the competition to become the new youth world champion in sport climbing in the older girls category. Janja entered the route very determinedly. With flawless technique and efficient moves, she easily handled even the hardest parts of the route that caused great difficulties to predecessors. A few moves before the top, she still had so much strength that she could wave to the enthusiastic crowd of spectators clearly indicating the desire for even louder cheering.

"Before the final route I was hardly nervous at all and I entered it completely relaxed. While climbing I really enjoyed it and climbed as I know how. I especially liked the audience cheering, which gave me extra strength. I am very happy with the victory and look forward to new challenges in the future," said Janja Garnbret after the sovereign victory, who with this result proved that currently no one in the world matches her, so we eagerly await her battles in higher categories. She certainly has enormous potential and is on the right path to repeat the successes of older Slovenian sport climbers who have been delighting us with excellent results for years.

"Janja climbed all routes to the top at the world championship in Nouméa. In the semi-final and final she was the only one who clipped the last quickdraw and thus effortlessly took first place. I am happy with the result and congratulate her," was satisfied Anže Štremfelj, the youth national team selector, whose success was

complemented by Martin Bergant with an excellent 3rd place in the youths category and Katja Kadič, seventh among juniors. Tjaša Slemenšek took 12th place in Nouméa among older girls.

RESULTS (Source: IFSC)

Older girls

(total competitors: 32)

1. Janja Garnbret, SLO

2. Asja Gollo, ITA

3. Viktoria Meshkova, RUS

…

12. Tjaša Slemenšek, SLO

Juniors

(total competitors: 25)

1. Aya Onoe, JPN

2. Jessica Pilz, AUT

3. Julia Chanourdie, FRA

…

7. Katja Kadič, SLO

Youths

(total competitors: 32)

1. Bernhard Röck, AUT

2. Loïc Timmermans, BEL

3. Martin Bergant, SLO