Triple Slovenian victory at the Youth World Championships

Triple Slovenian victory at the Youth World Championships in China: Janja 1st, Mia 2nd, Vita 3rd in lead.



Slovenia is celebrating in China, as the young sport climbers swept the competition on November 9 at the youth world championship in sport climbing Guangzhou 2016. In the cadet category up to 18 years, Janja Garnbret, also the current senior world champion, defended the youth world championship title in lead, Mia Krampl earned silver, and Vita Lukan bronze. The incredible success was complemented by Luka Potočar, fourth among older boys, and Tjaša Slemenšek, fifth among female cadets. The competitors face the bouldering part of the youth world championship in the coming days; we can cheer for the most successful youths on home soil on November 26 and 27 at the final senior World Cup lead event in Kranj.



In China, in the city of Guangzhou, the youth world championship in sport climbing began on Monday, November 7, 2016, where until November 13, 880 young climbers from 41 countries compete in lead, bouldering, and speed climbing, including nine members of the Slovenian youth national team in sport climbing led by selector Anže Štremfelj and coach Domen Švab. The championship opened with the lead competition, with five Slovenians qualifying for today's final.



Among female cadets up to 18 years, Janja Garnbret (Šaleški AO) predictably triumphed, unbeaten in the youth category in recent years. After her exceptional success in September in Paris, where as the second youngest competitor in history she became the 2016 senior world champion, she also claimed the 2016 youth world championship title in lead. "It's incredible that I've become youth world champion for the third time in a row. I'm very satisfied with my climbing in all rounds. But I'm even happier that I stood on the podium together with Mia and Vita," rejoiced the 17-year-old from Carinthia, who will defend her youth champion title in bouldering from last year in China.



Mia Krampl (AO PD Kranj) climbed to silver for the second time, this year as a cadet, last year in the under-16 category. "After not the most successful qualifications, I entered the semi-final determined and climbed high enough for the final, where I didn't think too much and gave everything. I'm very satisfied with the final second place and also happy that I managed to retain the youth world vice-champion title," was satisfied the 16-year-old Krampl, who this year also took 3rd place at the youth European championship in lead.



Vita Lukan (ŠPO PD Radovljica) rejoiced over the bronze medal in lead: "I went to the world championship with a good feeling, as I knew I was sufficiently prepared. After the semi-final, where I finished second, I really looked forward to the final. I entered the route relaxed, with the desire to climb as well as possible. What makes me happiest is that I can share the podium with Mia and Janja." Lukan will try in China to surpass or at least repeat last year's success - bouldering bronze from the youth world championship. In the strong cadet competition, Tjaša Slemenšek (Šaleški AO) also performed excellently, placing fifth.



Besides the exceptional female cadets, we also had a finalist among the older boys. Newcomer on major competitions Luka Potočar (ŠPO PD Radovljica) secured fourth place as one of five competitors who topped the final route in China in the youngest boys' category up to 16 years, where Frenchman Sam Avezou won, second and third were Japanese climbers Katsura Konishi and Hidemasa Nishida. Potočar has already won the overall standings of the 2016 youth European Cup this year.



The remaining members of the Slovenian youth national team in sport climbing also performed well, all qualifying for the semi-finals. Lučka Rakovec (ŠD Proteus) was 15th among older girls up to 16 years, Anže Peharc (AO PD Kranj) 15th and Julija Kruder (ŠPO PD Celje Matica) 19th in the youth category up to 20 years, Matic Kotar (ŠD Proteus) 21st among male cadets up to 18 years.



"I'm more than satisfied with the lead final outcome. In the female cadet category, the girls climbed at the top level. Janja once again proved she's far the best. Mia, after not the best performances in qualifications and semi-final, climbed her best precisely in the final. Vita deservedly claimed her first medal at youth world championships in lead with third place. I'm also very satisfied with Tjaša Slemenšek's final result, who this year focused mainly on bouldering training. Luka Potočar also positively surprised, practically without experience claiming an excellent fourth place. He climbed the final route to the top," was proud selector Anže Štremfelj, who already has his thoughts on the continuation of the championship: "Of course the competition isn't over yet, so we're directing all attention to the bouldering competition, which starts tomorrow."



Slovenian competitors still await the bouldering part of the youth world championship with Thursday and Friday qualifications, Saturday semi-final, and Sunday final on November 13. At the end of November, we can cheer for the best among them on home soil at the final senior World Cup lead event Kranj 2016, where Garnbret with her overall 2016 World Cup win has already ensured that we'll hear Zdravljica at least once.