World bouldering champion Shauna Coxsey, centre, with second-place Miho Nonaka and Melissa Le Neve. Photo: Eddie Fowke/IFSC
World bouldering champion Shauna Coxsey rounded off her season with a silver medal at the final meeting of the year.
British climber Coxsey had clinched the title with a victory at the previous meeting in Vail, Colorado, and managed second place at this weekend’s round in Munich.
The final world cup table has Coxsey on 560 points, 114 ahead of second-placed Miho Nonaka of Japan. French competitor Melissa Le Neve was third on 368 points.
Pierre-Emmanuel Danger of the International Sport Climbing Federation, which organises the bouldering world cup, said: “Once again, the Olympic Stadium in Munich was packed for the final IFSC bouldering world cup of 2016. After a cold and drizzly qualifications, the best bouldering athletes in the world chalked up in sunshine on Saturday to make their final bid for a medal.
“For the women, Coxsey had already sealed the deal at the previous event in June, but Nonaka maintained second place with a victory in Munich to improve on her third-place finish last year.
“Despite falling just short to 2015 Overall champion Akiyo Noguchi of Japan in finals, Melissa Le Neve of France still secured her first overall medal with a strong finals performance.
“The first women’s problem – W1 – did not factor into the equation when the feet of every athlete peeled off the bean-shaped volumes just before the top. W2 required both strength and precision, and four women solved the horizontal mantle to flash the problem.
Shauna Coxsey in action at the Munich meeting. Photo: Eddie Fowke/IFSC
“Five climbers powered through the triangular volumes of W3 to top, but Le Neve required one more attempt to do so than her competitors. Heading into W4, Coxsey, Nonaka and Noguchi were tied with two flashes apiece and three bonus holds.
“Neither Coxsey nor Noguchi could solve the tricky slab start, and Coxsey bested the veteran only with a countback to semis. Despite having the gold in the bag with a countback to semis, Nonaka still found the bonus hold beyond the technical traverse and kept it together to top and win outright.”
Warrington climber Shauna Coxsey was appointed an MBE in June, on the weekend she clinched the bouldering title.
A flash is a climb completed clean, with prior knowledge of the route.
Sport climbing, including bouldering, will be included in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
