South Korea\u2019s Lee Dohyun won his first world title in his hometown of Seoul taking the men\u2019s Lead title as Janja Garnbret took her third women\u2019s Lead gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the seventh day of competition at the IFSC Climbing and Para Climbing World Championships 2025, home nation climber Lee gave the crowd something to remember as he won his first world title, and the first South Korean men\u2019s World Championships medal in the Lead discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee climbed to hold 43+ and as he was lowered to the ground glanced at the scoreboard to see that he was in the top spot. He celebrated as he had secured a medal, but as France\u2019s Sam Avezou was still to come, he would have to wait to see what colour it would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As Avezou fell from the wall on hold 34+, Lee was stunned to know he had been crowned the world champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After his win Lee said: \u201cI feel amazing. It\u2019s my dream to win a World Championship, and it has come true. I\u2019m lost for words. This is my hometown and my parents and friends are here so it means a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee won a medal in Boulder in the last World Championships and has more World Cup medals in the discipline, but Lead was where it all began: \u201cWhen I was young I was a Lead climber and when I did Boulder my results were good, so I changed to Boulder, but I like to do both.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On his chances of doing a Seoul double Lee said: \u201cI\u2019m not sure about winning another medal in Boulder, but I am confident in my Boulder, so I will just do my best.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee overtook Yoshida Satone to take the gold which meant the Japanese climber had to settle for silver. Both climbers reached hold 43+ but due to his semi-final performance Lee edged it for the top spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Joining his teammate on the podium, Homma Taisei took the bronze medal climbing to hold 42+ which put him ahead of Spain\u2019s Alberto Gin\u00e9s L\u00f3pez, again due to countback to the semi-final as they both made the same spot on the wall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lee, Yoshida and Homma\u2019s medals were all the first in a World Championships for the climbers in the Lead discipline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another Japanese climber was in fifth with Neo Suzuki on hold 39+ ahead of Avezou who ended in sixth. The former world champion Jakob Schubert was going for his third gold in a row but a foot pop on hold 34 meant he finished in seventh ahead of Italy\u2019s Giovanni Placci who was competing in his first ever world level final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Janja Garnbret won her third Lead world title in style with the only top in the women\u2019s final. Although it could have been so different as a nervous slip sent a gasp though the crowd: \u201cI thought I was gone to be honest. I was trying to clip, and the right hold was super slippery and I was slipping mid clipping, but I thought I just have to clip and luckily I caught myself with the left hand and it all worked out in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That moment of unease came on a hold that could have been gold or silver depending on what the judges thought had she gone. But with the save, Garnbret carried on and the top never looked in doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n