World Championships in Qinghai, China
Canadian Sean McColl made the finals in both lead climbing and bouldering at the World Championships in Qinghai, China — the only climber to achieve this remarkable feat. However, no North American gained the podium in the biannual competitions’ three big events. Spanish climber Patxi Usobiaga capped his remarkable career by winning men’s lead climbing after three second-place finishes at previous World Championships. Among the women, Austrian Johanna Ernst, last year’s World Cup winner, continued her dominance of lead climbing competition.