Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Brands

Olympics

The Men’s Olympic Qualifiers: A Photo Gallery of Climbing’s Debut in Tokyo

Men's Qualifications: Our on-site photographers John Glassberg and Jess Talley captured climbing's Olympians on the very first event.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

This photo gallery is part of our ongoing coverage of the 2020 Olympic Games. For our full package of Olympic coverage as it happens, plus a print subscription to Climbing, join us with a membershipnow available at half off. For just $2 a month you get access to all of our extensive Olympic coverage, plus a year of Climbing in print, and the bonus edition of Ascent, our annual coffee-table edition of climbing’s finest writing, art and photography.
Ondra figuring it out in the men’s qualifier. Ondra, a favorite for the podium, would place 3rd in Bouldering. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
Michael and Bassa Mawem, both of France, and brothers, heading into qualifiers. Michael, in front, would finish first. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
Team USA athlete Nathaniel Coleman feeling good in Lead qualifiers. He’d top out in 5th place. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
Jongwon Chon, the South Korean legend, giving it his all in the Bouldering round. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11

Colin Duffy, of Team USA, putting in a performance of a lifetime on the men’s qualification Lead route. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
On the biggest stage climbing has ever reached: Nathaniel Coleman (right) battles the clock with Alex Megos (left). Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
Tomoa Narasaki, of Japan, finished the day in second place. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11

Team USA Head Coach, Josh Larson, arrives for the men’s qualifier. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11
Jakob Schubert, of Austria, placed 1st in Lead. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11

Jan Hojer, of Germany, working hard on the men’s boulders. He would place 9th in Bouldering. Photo: Jon Glassberg / Jess Talley / Louder Than 11

Film: How Matt Cornell Free Soloed One of America’s Classic Hard Mixed Routes

"The Nutcracker" explores the mental challenges of solo climbing and the tactics Cornell used to help him send the route.