There is something about Natalia Grossman and Salt Lake City.
The American sport climber claimed her fifth IFSC World Cup win there – for a ninth World Cup gold overall – and won the women’s bouldering title on Saturday night (May 20) in front of a lively home crowd.
The 21-year-old Grossman finished eighth in Hachioji and 11th in Seoul to start the season. The win was her first since winning the Innsbruck World Cup in June 2022.
France’s Oriane Bertone finished second, while Grossman’s American teammate Brooke Raboutou claimed the bronze.
Grossman was in dominant form throughout the world championships, qualifying in first place and topping all four boulders in the women’s final, including three flashes (topping on her first attempt). She said illness and injury kept her out of action to start the World Cup series last month.
“Asia was quite tough for me; I had a lot of stomach problems and then my neck hurt,” she said on the IFSC broadcast. “So just feeling physically better was already a big help in my mental game.”
She added of her win in Salt Lake: “It’s great just to be home. I think this is the best crowd of any World Cup I’ve been to.”
Later on Saturday night, the women’s speed event will feature Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw, the world record holder. Miroslaw has not lost a World Speed Championship she has competed in since 2019.
