Boulder Athlete First American To Qualify For Olympic Climbing

BOULDER, CO — An 18-year-old Boulder athlete will be the first American to participate in the newly-added competitive climbing event at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, according to a report. Brooke Raboutou was one of seven women to qualify for the event following her performance at the World Championships last month in Hachioji, Japan.

Only 40 climbers in the world — 20 of each gender, and a maximum of four athletes per country — are allowed to compete in Tokyo, the Daily Camera reported. At the World Championships, Raboutou placed sixth in speed climbing, seventh in lead climbing and 10th in bouldering, earning her a spot in the Olympics.

A climber since she was 7 years old, Raboutou already has several championships and broken records under her belt, including being the youngest female to conquer several difficulty levels in bouldering and sport climbing. In addition to rock climbing, Raboutou is a full-time student at the University of San Diego.