Picture this: a packed arena in France where teenage climbers battle gravity on towering walls, and one nation sweeps the top prizes – it's the kind of drama that keeps you hooked on climbing's future stars! Dive into the electrifying conclusion of the 2025 Youth European Cup, held in Toulouse-Tournefeuille, France, from November 1 to 2. This event shared the spotlight with the season's final European Cup at the very same location, creating a perfect storm of competitive climbing action.
TEAM ITALY ENDS THE SEASON WITH A BANG
Italy's squad wrapped up the Lead climbing season in spectacular fashion, snagging three-quarters of the gold medals on offer. For context, Lead climbing is an intense discipline where athletes ascend fixed routes on artificial walls, relying on strength, technique, and nerves of steel – think of it as a vertical marathon where every move counts. Newcomers Andrea Ludovico Chelleris and Matilda Liù Moar celebrated their maiden victories, stepping onto the podium for the first time in their careers. Meanwhile, Gianluca Vighetti boosted his collection, adding a second gold to his tally after his earlier triumph at the 2025 Youth European Cup in Bologna, Italy (check out the full breakdown here: https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/every-medallist-at-the-ifsc-youth-european-cup-bologna-2025). It's a testament to Italy's climbing pipeline, producing athletes who shine brightly from a young age.
But here's where it gets controversial... Ukraine's Rafael Kazbekova broke the Italian stranglehold, becoming the sole non-Italian to claim gold in the women's U17 category. Her victory marked her fourth medal of the season – an impressive haul of two golds and two silvers – showcasing her as a rising talent who defied expectations. And this is the part most people miss: in a sport where national dominance can sometimes raise eyebrows about training programs or access to facilities, Kazbekova's breakthrough sparks debates. Could this be a hint of shifting tides in youth climbing, or is it just one standout performance? What do you think – does the dominance of certain countries stifle global diversity in sports like this?
FULL PODIUM BREAKDOWN
Let's break down the results across the categories, helping beginners understand that U17 means under 17 years old, and U19 is for those under 19 – these divisions allow young climbers to compete against peers, building skills and confidence step by step.
Women's U17 Lead:
- Rafael KAZBEKOVA (UKR)
- Swann LAMBLIN-BURGUET (FRA)
- Milena CASETTA (SRB)
Men's U17 Lead:
- Andrea Ludovico CHELLERIS (ITA)
- Hypolite VILANOVA (FRA)
- Yanik CHASSAIN (SUI)
Women's U19 Lead:
- Matilda Liù MOAR (ITA)
- Lana GORIC (SLO)
- Julia BENACH ZUBERO (ESP)
Men's U19 Lead:
- Gianluca VIGHETTI (ITA)
- Akyan ETCHAR (FRA)
- Giovanni BAGNOLI (ITA)
WHAT'S COMING NEXT
Stay tuned, as the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is set to unveil the schedule for upcoming European events in the weeks ahead. For those eager to catch the action live, all semi-finals and finals from these competitions will be broadcasted in real-time on the IFSC Europe YouTube channel. Keep up with the latest news and updates by visiting the IFSC website (https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/) or following their vibrant digital presence across platforms like Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/sportclimbing/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/ifsclimbing/), LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifsclimbing/), Threads (https://www.threads.net/@ifsclimbing), TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@worldclimbing), X (https://x.com/ifsclimbing), and for our Chinese audience, Bilibili, Douyin, Weibo (https://weibo/), and Xiaohongshu.
These young climbers are pushing the boundaries of what's possible on the wall – but is this the dawn of a new era in climbing, or are we overlooking potential imbalances? Do you believe youth competitions like this inspire the next generation, or should more emphasis be placed on inclusivity across nations? Drop your thoughts in the comments – agree or disagree, let's discuss!
