Climbing · Worth knowing

Otto Reiter of Germany won the men's lead climbing competition at the World Climbing Europe Series in Žilina 2026 with a score of 1.73, followed by Andrea Ludovico Chelleri of Italy (2.45) and Tommaso Lambo of Italy (3.12). The results show a competitive European field with climbers from across the continent, including strong performances from Italian competitors who occupied multiple top positions.

Mina Markovic, a 22-time World Cup winner, has completed her third 9a grade route, Waterworld, a 55-meter climb in Osp set by Kleman Becan. The route is known for its complex sequences and took Markovic nearly 30 attempts over ten days to send, with the crux requiring significant biceps strength. She described her initial attempts as humbling, not fully understanding the movement sequences until gradually piecing together the climbing beta. Rather than relying on specialized indoor training, Markovic climbs 5-6 days per week outdoors, spending only 3-4 days per month indoors over the past three months, emphasizing her preference for outdoor climbing volume over structured gym preparation.