Movement Blog

The international stage was set in Helsinki, Finland, where the world's best young climbers gathered for the IFSC Youth World Championship, and Team Texas made sure their presence was felt. Representing the United States among hundreds of athletes from across the globe, our climbers showed strength, skill, and grit as they tackled some of the most challenging routes of their careers. (Photo by Steve William) Podium Success Evie Albrecht - U17 Women's Speed In a display of speed and precision, Evie clutched Gold with an incredible time of 6.96 seconds, narrowly beating her competitor by just 0.03 seconds. The first US Women's Speed Gold at Youth Worlds since 2023, solidifying her place in history and setting a whole new standard. (Photo by Steve William) A Team Effort These victories are more than just the achievements of an individual athletes, they are the result of years of dedication, resilience, and support from the entire Team Texas community. The climbers' success reflects not only their hard work, but also the tireless efforts of their coaches, whose guidance, expertise, and unwavering belief in their athletes helped prepare them for the world stage. Together, athletes and coaches forged a path to the podium, showcasing the strength and spirit of the Texas climbing community.

In climbing, as in life, there's something thrilling about the prospect of a race. Two competitors, a clearly defined finish, and the drive to be the quickest. You may have seen a unique wall in your local gym marked by uniform red holds. Here, climbers tap into this excitement as they face off in a vertical sprint to the top. Blink, and you might miss it. This is speed climbing.

Once I got into climbing, I started watching competitions. Well, I guess not all comps - specifically, the IFSC's (IFSC stands for International Federation of Sport Climbing) bouldering finals competitions. And while I don't climb in comps, even casually, I have learned a lot of great lessons and I recommend more climbers watch comps.

The venue was packed for the final event everyone had been waiting for – Youth Bouldering World Championship Finals. The top six climbers in each division from all over the world face off against each other in an epic showdown to see who truly is the best in the world. As the sun set, the lights to the venue kicked on and the show began.