Japanese Teenager Wins Boulder World Cup with Stunning Performance in Salt Lake City

Anraku Sorato, a seventeen-year-old Japanese sport climbing star, conquered the final boulder route at the IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City on Saturday and secured his second career boulder World Cup win. Anraku’s compatriot Narasaki Meichi took home the silver medal, while Austrian veteran Jakob Schubert earned the bronze, marking his 11th in boulder competitions and 64th overall.

Anraku’s victory in Salt Lake City comes after a successful year, finishing with a silver medal in boulder at the same event last year and subsequently claiming his first boulder World Cup title in Innsbruck, Austria. With the support of an enthusiastic crowd, Anraku topped three of the four routes and made it to the zone on the fourth, securing his place at the top of the podium.

Reflecting on his win, Anraku shared his excitement and gratitude for the milestone in his training, highlighting the confidence it gave him as he looks ahead to future competitions. Despite feeling nervous and tense during the final boulder, Anraku’s determination and skill carried him through to success.

As home climbers Emma Hunt and Sam Watson prepared to compete in speed climbing events on Sunday with Watson aiming to defend his men’s world record set at 4.79 seconds. The women’s speed competition was scheduled for Monday promising more thrilling action for fans and participants alike.