Mina Markovič European Champion
13.07.2015
Historic achievement: Mina Markovič European champion, Janja Garnbret runner-up.
Mina Markovič won the European Championships in lead climbing in Chamonix, which was also the opening round of the World Cup, on July 12, 2015, and claimed the title of European champion, while Janja Garnbret took 2nd place in her first senior competition and became European runner-up. This is a historic achievement for Slovenian sport climbing, as we had not yet had a European champion in lead.
The Slovenian sport climbers, 27-year-old Mina Markovič and just 16-year-old Janja Garnbret, dominated the competition in Chamonix, where as the only finalists they topped the route both in the semifinals and the final. Markovič became European champion in lead climbing for the first time in her career with her victory at the European Championships, which also counted for World Cup points, while Garnbret earned the title of European runner-up with second place in her first senior World Cup competition. Third place went to Austria's Jessica Pilz.
The winning duo stepped on the podium five times. Slovenia's most successful sport climber Mina Markovič won silver in the overall combined standings of the European Championships in addition to two gold medals, after finishing sixth in bouldering in Innsbruck in May. "I'm really happy about the really good start to the season and the climbed route. It's all a nice confirmation of good training and form. I really enjoyed the whole competition and can't wait for the next ones," said the satisfied Markovič, who achieved the European champion title for the first time this year after three second places at the European Championships.
Janja Garnbret, who became European youth champion in lead climbing for the third time in a row a month ago, showed with two senior silver medals that she will be strong competition for older competitors as well. "I went to my first World Cup relaxed, without expectations. I really enjoyed all the routes and climbed them almost without pressure. I'm really happy about my first podium and really looking forward to the next challenges," was excited the youngest competitor in Chamonix.
In the men's competition, Domen Škofic narrowly missed the final cutoff and finished 9th. The winner was Spaniard Ramon Julian Puigblanque, second was Czech Adam Ondra, and third was German Sebastian Halenke.
"After a somewhat not the best bouldering part of the season, we were all eagerly awaiting the first lead competition. This time it was a World Cup event that also counted as the European Championships. It turned out like a dream. I can't say we didn't expect it quietly, but still crazy. Having two competitors on the podium at the first competition, first and second, is certainly more than excellent. This gave us a European champion and runner-up, which is a historic achievement for Slovenian sport climbing, as we had not yet had a European champion in lead," could not hide his joy the coach and selector of the Slovenian senior national team Roman Krajnik, adding: "I'm a bit sorry for Domen, as I'm convinced he belongs to the world elite too, unfortunately he made a small mistake in the semifinals, so he stayed just below the finalists' line. But we have a new opportunity next weekend, a new World Cup event."
Slovenia was represented by seven sport climbers. In addition to the mentioned trio, Tjaša Kalan who finished 17th, Urban Primožič who ended the competition in 21st place, Martin Bergant in 32nd, and Jure Raztresen in 48th place.