From lead to speed. A look at the disciplines of sport climbing

By Canadian Press on September 29, 2025.

Sport climbing consists of three separate disciplines: speed, bouldering and lead.

Speed climbing is a race up a 15-metre wall, with the fastest climber winning.

Bouldering sees athletes climb a short wall — about 15 feet (4.5 metres) in the Olympics — without ropes but with a large foam mat below in case of falls.

Lead climbing is an endurance challenge that sees climbers try to reach the highest point on a tall wall, clipping into a rope as they go.

At the Tokyo Olympics, all three were part of a single combined event. For the 2024 Olympics, the speed discipline was split off into a stand-alone event with bouldering and lead combined as another event.

In Los Angeles in 2028, all three disciplines will be separate events.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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