Sport Climbing Speed had its first qualification event of 2023, which was the IFSC Climbing World Championships (Speed) in Bern (Switzerland) from 1-12 August 2023. The event took place at the PostFinance Arena, home since 1967 of sixteen-time Swiss ice hockey champions SC Bern. The sport has a men’s and women’s event, with the top two athletes earning a spot in Paris.
Matthew Fall was making his World Championship debut, while Rafe Stokes was doing the same after hitting a British record earlier in the year. The top sixteen would escape qualification, with each athlete getting two attempts (the fastest attempt counting). Stokes was the better Brit, coming 35th in 5.67, while Fall managed 67th in 7.33. The United States’ Zach Hammer was the slowest qualifier in 5.38.
On the women’s side, no Brits entered. The next chance to qualify in this sport would be the European Qualifier in Rome (Italy) from 15-16 September 2023.
GB Games 