The IFSC Sport Climbing Oceania Qualifier 2023 in Melbourne on Sunday, November 26, live on Olympic Channel, saw New Zealand speed climbers Julian David and Sarah Tetzlaff win the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, securing quota slots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games*.
In a remarkable turn of events, 18-year-old David won the men’s speed competition after Australia’s Hayden Barton, who had been the fastest through the quarter and semifinals, slipped halfway up the wall in the championship round.
The Kiwi sensed victory and celebrated before setting off the timer, but he had to stop fast because Barton was pursuing him. David finished first with a timing of 6.77 seconds.
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In the women’s speed category, Tetzlaff (8.54 seconds) won and claimed the solitary quota slot after taking advantage of a late error made by Grace Crowley (8.88) of Australia.
Prior to what appeared to be a mistake on the final grasp of the wall, Crowley was in the lead. This gave rising 2018 Youth Olympic Games participant Tetzlaff the opportunity to pass him and win.
Australia won both the men’s and women’s Boulder and Lead crowns, along with quota slots, on Saturday.
*Athletes’ participation in the Paris Games is contingent upon their National Olympic Committees (NOCs) choosing them to represent their delegation in Paris in 2024, as NOCs hold the exclusive authority for representing their respective nations at the Olympic Games Climbing Oceania Qualifier.