USA’s Annie Sanders set the pace for all to follow on the final boulder of the women’s final, and no one could reach the heights she had set taking the third Boulder gold of her career.
Great Britain’s Erin McNeice fought her way to yet another podium spot taking silver while China’s Yuetong Zhang took bronze in her first Boulder final appearance.
Coming out second after a low finish in the semi-final, Sanders made her mark straight out of the blocks as the only climber to top boulder one. Every other climber could only flash the zone. The thing was, Sanders knew she was going to make a fast start.
“The first one really suited me, like super well,” said Sanders, “When I went out to observation I thought ‘oh yeah, I’m going to do this boulder’ and I went out and executed.”
A few more climbers topped boulder two while Sanders could only zone. McNeice was one, but she took 10 attempts which put her on the back foot. Zhang meanwhile was still looking for her first top in a final.
Seven of the eight final climbers topped boulder three with Sanders, McNeice and Japan’s Melody Sekikawa flashing. Zhang took two attempts, but she was now on the board with a top.
Every scenario was possible because of the order and the points in play on the final boulder.
Sekikawa was first out and a flash to zone put her in the medal positions. A Sanders flash put her in the top spot with 84.3pts, and all both of them could then do was sit and wait.
Climber after climber came and went.
Zhang flashed to move into second behind Sanders and ahead of Sekikawa. Another climber who just had to wait on others to see what their fate would be.
Australia’s Oce Mackenzie was in with a shot of gold but failed to zone as missed her shot at yet another podium. But now things were starting to become a little clearer – well, for gold, but not the silver or bronze. Mackenzie’s fail meant a guaranteed gold for Sanders as she was the only climber in with a mathematical chance of overhauling the American’s total score.
After her win Sanders said: “It feels pretty incredible, I’m still trying to process it. The crowd was super supportive and it was pretty electric.”
Japan’s Mao Nakamura and France’s Zélia Avezou had a shot at the podium. Nakamura unfortunately could only unlock the boulder when her time was up, but on attempts she might have just missed out anyway. Avezou had a shot at silver, but like Mackenzie and Nakamura didn’t take it.
Now it was down to McNeice. The maths was simple. Zone got her nothing. A top got her silver, and meant Sekikawa slipping off the podium at the very last moment with Zhang safe in the knowledge she had a guaranteed medal – even if she didn’t know what colour yet.
As is the way these day’s with McNeice, she kept her cool and flashed the boulder for 84.1pts for silver ahead of Zhang who had 69.7pts, but it was a bronze medal at her first attempt at a final.
Sekikawa was fourth with 69.5pts, Mackenzie fifth with 59.5pts, Nakamura was sixth with 54.6pts and Avezou seventh with 44.7pts.
Eighth was Japan’s Anon Matsufuji who couldn’t quite get to grips with the final boulderstaking three zones for 29.7pts.
The World Climbing Series finishes tomorrow with the lead semi-final and final for the men and women – and Sanders is one climber who will be looking to double up on a Prague podium.
RESULTS
Women’s Boulder: https://wclmb.hopp.to/pra26wbr
THE PROGRAMME
The World Climbing Series Prague 2026 will kick off with two days of qualifications: men’s Boulder on Wednesday, 3 June at 9:00 (UTC+2:00), followed by women’s Boulder at 16:00. Lead qualifications will take place on Thursday, 4 June at 10:00.
Semi-finals and finals will liven up the weekend, with men’s Boulder awarding its medals on Friday, 5 June, women’s Boulder on Saturday, and Lead semi-finals and finals closing the event on Sunday, 7 June.
News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.