Climbing was a proud new addition to the Olympics in 2020. It was a milestone moment that introduced sport climbing to the world in a novel way. However, the current combined format forcing both bouldering and lead specialists to compete in their not-as-refined discipline, sadly limits the number of our climbing stars from truly shining.

A glaring example comes from the 2024 Olympics, where the talented Ai Mori achieved first place in the lead discipline, but still didn't earn a medal due to her performance in the non-specialist discipline.

Many believe that such a skilled athlete should not leave the platform medal-less solely due to an unfamiliar discipline. Reassessing the current Olympic climbing format to separate bouldering and lead events would provide athletes a fair chance to excel in their area of expertise.

A revised format would not only honor the specific skills and training that climbers pass through but also set a stage for the full range of diversity and talent in this sport. It would give every athlete the opportunity to succeed on an international stage, which is the true spirit of the Olympics.

Let's look forward to LA 2028. Let's allow more climbers to shine. Let's pave a road for a format that respects and highlights each athlete's specific skills and brilliance. Let's separate the Lead and Bouldering competitions. This change can't come without your support. Please sign this petition to support a more justified format for Olympic Climbing.