Bouldering is a type of climbing. It involves short, tough walls. Climbers use no ropes. They rely on strength and strategy. Each wall has various holds.
Oceana Mackenzie’s Olympic Challenge
Oceana Mackenzie is a 22-year-old climber from Melbourne. She faces a four-and-a-half meter wall at the Olympics in Paris. The wall has a challenging arrangement of holds. Mackenzie’s goal is to climb it in as few attempts as possible.
Preparing for the Climb
Before each round, climbers stay in isolation. This prevents them from seeing others’ attempts. Mackenzie must quickly assess the wall when she steps onto the stage. She uses her experience to plan her climb.
The First Problem
Mackenzie starts by chalking her hands. She climbs the wall with focus. The wall has five segments. Each segment is worth five points. Reaching the top earns a perfect score of 25 points. Mackenzie completes the climb in just 30 seconds. She earns the first perfect score of the day. The crowd cheers, and the DJ plays a remix by Dom Dolla.
Overcoming Nervousness
Mackenzie feels nervous at first. However, she quickly gains confidence. She sees the problem suits her style. Her preparation helps her complete the climb on her first try.
Sport Climbing in the Olympics
Sport climbing debuted at Tokyo 2020. It includes bouldering, lead climbing, and speed climbing. In Tokyo, these were combined into one event. For Paris 2024, speed climbing is a separate event. Lead climbing and bouldering are still combined.
The Frenetic Nature of Bouldering
Bouldering is fast-paced. Four climbers tackle different problems at the same time. Volunteers scrub the walls between attempts. The action is continuous. Climbers fall and quickly regroup.
Mackenzie’s Performance Across Problems
After her successful first climb, Mackenzie takes a break. She listens to Korean pop music to relax. Then she prepares for the next problems.
- Problem Two: Slightly harder, Mackenzie almost completes it on her first try. She falls but scores 24.9 on her second attempt.
- Problem Three: This problem is more complex. Mackenzie tries twice before succeeding on her third attempt. She scores 24.8.
- Problem Four: The final problem is challenging. Mackenzie reaches only the first segment, scoring 4.9. Despite this, her overall score puts her in a strong position for the finals.
The Skills Required for Sport Climbing
Sport climbing needs both physical and mental skills. Climbers need flexibility and strength. They also need a strong mindset. Mackenzie’s experience shows the importance of being well-rounded.