The World Climbing Series season gets underway in Keqiao, China, with the first Boulder competition of the year. The event brings together a world-class field and marks the start of a new campaign defined by record prize money announced earlier in the off-season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All eyes will be on Janja Garnbret, the two-time Olympic champion, who returns to the Chinese venue where she claimed gold in 2024. The Slovenian arrives in top form after securing another world title in Seoul in September 2025, and is now closing in on a remarkable milestone: her 50th gold medal across World Climbing Series and former World Cup events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Packed with Olympians and World Cup winners, the field sets the stage for a highly competitive season opener. Among the participants are also World Championships silver medallist Oriane Bertone of France, and bronze medallist Melina Costanza of the USA, both returning after their podium finishes in Seoul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Costanza, Keqiao represents a fresh start after limited appearances in recent seasons. “I’m doing well. We had pretty easy travel in, and I’m feeling excited about the season,” she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“This will be my first time doing a lot of World Cups in Boulder in one season \u2013 my first time doing any Boulder World Cup since 2022 \u2013 so I’m really excited.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After dealing with injuries, including a knee issue last year, the US climber arrives confident in her physical condition: “I’m gonna knock on wood, but they feel good right now. I had injured my knee last season, and this year I haven’t had any knee issues so far… so I’m feeling healthy and excited for the first event and many more.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her confidence is also rooted in her breakthrough performance at last year’s Climbing World Championships in Seoul, where she secured bronze: “That was definitely, by far, my best result ever. I had never made a final or semi-final even at a Boulder World Cup before, so it definitely was kind of a fairy tale finish to that season.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite that result, Costanza remains grounded in her expectations: “Going into the season with no expectations, hoping to make my first semi-final, and take it step by step, day by day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She is also fully aware of the level she will face in Keqiao: “I know how strong the competition is, and I definitely do not underestimate that. I feel really grateful to be here, surrounded by so many people who are so talented and so strong and so dedicated. I think it pushes the level higher for everyone.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking ahead, Melina Costanza anticipates a shift in the style of Climbing this season: “I think the trajectory has been more toward a classical bouldering style. Not so much every single boulder being some sort of coordination, or really complicated to figure out. I think we’ll see some straightforward, hard Climbing this year, and I think it’ll be exciting for everyone to participate and to watch!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The men’s field is equally competitive, led by defending Keqiao winner Anraku Sorato of Japan, who returns after claiming victory at this venue in 2024. He is joined by the two athletes who shared the podium with him at the 2025 World Championships in Seoul: Mejdi Schalck of France and Lee Dohyun of South Korea, following what was a high-level and tightly contested final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a record prize pool, a stacked field, and evolving Climbing styles, the Boulder opener in Keqiao promises to set the tone for the World Climbing Series 2026.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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