Climbing
These are the 17 top climbers in the world right now
From Olympic stars and millennials to Gen Z's rising talent, sport climbing is evolving at lightning speed. Meet the athletes pushing limits and defining the future of the sport.
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The silence that comes before the send, the fall that fuels the comeback, the insane training to fail for months, only to succeed for mere seconds: this is the raw adrenaline of climbing. Whether it's a sleek wall in Paris, a limestone overhang in Spain or a power boulder in Fontainebleau, this sport reveals what climbers are made of.
For them, it's not just about the medals or grades. It's about obsession, finesse and a pure love for the sport. Today the world's top climbers are once again rewriting what's humanly possible.
From Olympic glory in Paris to jaw-dropping outdoor ascents that seem to defy logic, these 17 athletes have earned their place in the pantheon of modern climbing. Some are legends, others are still rising, but all are sending harder and climbing higher than ever before. With so many different styles and approaches to climbing, it’s impossible to crown just one as the best. So, let's meet them all, in no particular order.
01
Janja Garnbret
Janja Garnbret is the undisputed queen of competitive climbing
© Stefan Voitl/Red Bull Content Pool
- Born: March 12, 1999 – Slovenia
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Two Olympic gold medals, highest number of IFSC gold medals
Janja Garnbret is a name that will rule the sport for years to come, but beyond her success she's loved by all and never fails to win our hearts – like a true queen. Dominating the competition scene with a graceful climbing style that seems to defy gravity, she's built a legacy of gold medals starting with her game-changing sweep of the entire IFSC World Cup season in 2019. Six bouldering events. Six wins. Fast forward to today and Garnbret holds the record for the most IFSC golds ever and not one, but two Olympic golds. In the Lead World Cup she's only missed the podium four times to date.
20 min
The perfect season part 1
Janja Garnbret has been dominating the climbing competition scene. Can she complete the perfect season?
What makes her truly unforgettable is her mentality. "As a child, I wanted to be the best in everything," she says. "Then, I kind of realised I can't be the best at everything – I have to focus on one thing. And I chose climbing." That focus turned her into a phenomenon who wins so often it almost seems unfair.
Now, with the next Olympics still a stretch away, Garnbret is using her break from competition to tackle outdoor climbs. In 2025, she completed the first female ascent (FFA) of a historic 8c+ in Mišja Peč, Slovenia. She’s also ticked off multiple V15s (8C) boulders and is working towards the elusive 9b+ (5.15c) grade.
02
Adam Ondra
- Born: February 5, 1993 – Czech Republic
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climb: The first to climb the hardest grades of 9c/5.15d and 9b+/5.15c with routes Silence in 2017 and Change in 2012 respectively. First ascent of the famous 9b+ La Dura Dura route in 2013
Adam Ondra has always been in the news since he was just 13-years-old, when he climbed his first 9a, and he continues to make headlines today. Raised by two climbers, Ondra was onsighting 5.13s before most kids learned algebra. By 13 he was already winning international competitions and by 16 he redpointed La Rambla (9a+ (5.15a)), one of Spain's most iconic routes. But that was only the beginning.
28 min
Age of Ondra part 3
Adam Ondra heads to Canmore, Canada, to take on Fight Club, a 9B climb, and master it in just one day.
In 2012, he stunned the climbing world by completing the first-ever 9b+ ascent. The following year, he raised the bar again with the first ascent of La Dura Dura (9b+), one of the hardest routes ever. But the real shocker came in 2016, when Ondra made the second free ascent of The Dawn Wall, a 1,000-metre granite route at El Capitan in California's Yosemite Valley graded 9a – a feat that left climbers everywhere in awe. Then, in 2017 he upped the ante again by sending Silence in Flatanger Cave in Norway, the world’s first 9c (5.15d). It's a climb no one has repeated to this day.
But Ondra didn’t stop there. His relentless drive has pushed the boundaries of what's possible in both indoor and outdoor climbing. A few months back, he shattered records again by sending Soudain Seul, a 9A (V17) boulder in Fontainebleau, France – the highest boulder grade ever. And if that wasn’t enough, he's already eyeing his second 9c project, climbing DNA
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03
Jakob Schubert
- Born: December 31, 1990 – Austria
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Two Olympic bronze medals, first ascent of 9c B.I.G. and sent highest boulder grade Alphane 9A (V17) in 2023
Jakob Schubert has been making history for so long that some of today's top climbers weren't even born when he started. And he’s still crushing it. Often flying under the radar, Schubert has shown time and again that age is no obstacle for him – he only gets better, like a fine wine aging to perfection.
Schubert's comp chops are still there, as Red Bull Dual Ascent showed
© Stefan Voitl/Red Bull Content Pool
Starting at just 12, Schubert has defied every expectation, constantly breaking his own records. By 2012 he'd already racked up six World Championships, seven World Cup overalls and an incredible 24 World Cup victories. But it’s not just the competition wins that set him apart.
In 2011, he ticked off his first 9a and from there the list of 9as and 9bs just kept growing. In 2023, Schubert made history again by becoming only the third person ever to climb a 9c (5.15d) route, sending his own creation, B.I.G., in a live-streamed ascent that captivated the world. But he wasn't done after conquering B.I.G., he pushed the limits even further to send Alphane, a V17 (9a) boulder, and become the first climber to master the highest grades in both bouldering and lead climbing.
In 2024, Schubert joined forces with Jessica Pilz to win Red Bull Dual Ascent, showing once again that his skill set and mental toughness are unmatched.
04
Chris Sharma
- Born: April 23, 1981 – United States
- Speciality: Sport climbing, deep-water solo
- Standout climbs: Hardest ever deep-water solo ascents (2007 and 2017), La Dura Dura in Oliana, the hardest confirmed free climb (9b+) of that time in 2013
How can we forget the man who started it all? The hard routes, the parkour-style jumps and those massive dynos – he was the one who introduced hard gym climbing and parkour-style moves to the scene. Not only that, Chris Sharma set the outdoor stage for the climbers of the 2000s and beyond by putting up 'king lines', the hardest climbs in the world.
31 min
Black Pearl
At 42, Chris Sharma conquers Black Pearl in Mallorca – his toughest deep water solo climb yet.
For Sharma, climbing is all about pushing the absolute limit, which he's done by getting on the redpoint train, sending his first 9a+, then 9b and 9b+ by 2013 – right alongside Adam Ondra as the only climbers pushing these insane grades at the time.
Sharma's competitive edge still shines through. He recently competed at the 2024 North American Cup Series event in New Jersey, where he snagged silver in Lead, surprising everyone. Though he made his mark as a comp climber early on in 2001, he shifted his focus outdoors, ultimately becoming one of the greatest climbers ever.
In March 2023, at 41-years-old, Sharma sent his route Sleeping Lion, a 9b+ (5.15c). Still chasing the perfect project, he's opening king lines like a famous 9a in Mallorca, proving that he's far from slowing down.
05
Brooke Raboutou
- Born: April 9, 2001 – United States
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: First woman to climb 9b+ sport climbing route, youngest woman to climb 5.14b (8c) sport climbing grade, silver medal at Paris Games
Brooke Raboutou is rewriting her family's legendary climbing legacy and creating a whole new one of her own. Born into climbing royalty (her parents are world champs and her brother sends hard boulders), Raboutou was flashing V10s before she was even in middle school. But don't let the family name fool you, her success is the result of relentless discipline, unshakable calm and a creative movement style that makes the impossible look simple.
By 11 she became the youngest woman ever to climb a 5.14b, setting records and leaving jaws on the floor. Raboutou's climb to greatness doesn’t stop there. She made history by snagging a silver medal at the Paris Games, becoming the first American woman to medal in Olympic sport climbing, and just recently she made the historic ascent of Excalibur to become the first woman ever to climb a 9b+. While she’s yet to send a 5.15 route, her leap to a 5.15c is no small feat at all.
06
Toby Roberts
- Born: March 15, 2005 – United Kingdom
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Paris Games gold medallist, becoming the first British to win an Olympic medal in sport climbing
The future of climbing right now – Toby Roberts
© Jake Turney/Red Bull Content Pool
I just love the uniqueness of climbing. What really drives me is the act of trying hard and doing insane stuff
After the legends in the list, here comes a gen-z who's quickly becoming the rising face of the future climbing world: Toby Roberts. By age 10, he was sending 8a routes and at just 15 he became the youngest British climber to redpoint a 9a. Now, with multiple World Cup wins under his belt, Roberts is dominating both lead and bouldering competitions, proving age is just a number in the world of climbing.
"I just love the uniqueness of climbing," says Roberts. "What really drives me is the act of trying hard and doing insane stuff." It's this drive and determination that has fueled his meteoric rise, leading to a gold medal at Paris 2024 and a series of impressive World Cup wins of late.
Roberts isn't just focused on the comps, though. He's already sent some of the hardest routes outdoors, including the famous Gancho Perfecto (9a+), just after his Olympic victory.
07
Veddriq Leonardo
- Born: March 11, 1997 – Indonesia
- Speciality: Speed climbing
- Standout climbs: Speed Climbing Olympic gold in 2024, the first Indonesian non-badminton gold medalist
We did the rocks, the comps, the boulders – now it's time for the explosive speed that gets athletes to the top in mere seconds. Enter the elite speed climber who's been dominating the scene since high school – Veddriq Leonardo. From his first national championship in 2014, he's consistently taken home gold medals, proving his mastery over the clock. In 2024, he was named the World Games Athlete of the Year – the third climber ever to claim this honor – so when it comes to speed, he's the faster master.
08
Barbara Zangerl
- Born: May 24, 1988 – Austria
- Speciality: Bouldering, traditional/big-wall climbing
- Standout climbs: Flashing a route on El Capitan (Freerider in 2024), the first-ever female to climb an 8A+/8B (V12/13) graded bouldering route in 2008 and climbing the hardest traditional climbing grade ever achieved by a female climber with Meltdown route (8c+/5.14c)
You think we've covered all the categories, but the real adventure of climbing is just getting started. Meet one of the best all-around climbers in the world, who's constantly redefining what’s possible.
24 min
Burning the flame part 1
Elite power duo Babsi and Jacopo attempt a coveted free ascent of the Nameless Tower in Pakistan.
Barbara Zangerl's journey started at 14 with bouldering, becoming the first female to send an 8A+/8B (V12/13) with Pura Vida in 2008. Injuries forced her to leave the boulders and dive deep into traditional climbing – and what followed was a series of unprecedented feats, including multiple first free ascents (FFAs) of some of the hardest routes on El Capitan and in the Alps. From conquering the iconic Nose route to climbing high-altitude big-wall routes on Trango Towers, Zangerl has left no rock unturned.
In 2023 she set a new benchmark, becoming the first woman to climb Meltdown – an 8c+ (5.14c) traditional route and the hardest ever done by a female climber. The next year she became the first person to flash a route on El Capitan, sending Freerider in a single push – a moment that makes her one of the greatest climbers ever!
09
Alex Megos
- Born: August 12, 1993 – Germany
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: World's first 9a onsight, first free ascent (FFA) of two 9b+ (5.15c) routes (Perfecto Mundo and Bibliographie)
5 min
Alex Megos proves why no excuses exist in climbing
Alex Megos tells us the secret of how he overcomes friction during his incredible climbs.
Another climber known for his speed is Alex Megos, specifically for his lightning-fast sends. He set a record by sending the legendary Action Directe in just two hours and he's the only person to conquer the famous Biographie (9a+) in a single day.
Starting his climbing journey at the age of six, he's a multi-time World Cup silver medalist and a gold medalist at the 2018 Briancon Cup, even earning spots in the Olympic Games. It's his impressive outdoor climbs made him a household name however.
Megos made history as the first person to onsight a 9a (5.14d) route and his onsight streak includes around 20 routes graded 8c or harder, just behind Adam Ondra. In January of this year, Megos sent Tuareg Blanco (9b/+) in Margalef, Spain – his fifth send of the prestigious grade.
10
Stefano Ghisolfi
- Born: February 18, 1993 – Italy
- Speciality: Sport Climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Fourth person ever to send a 9b+ grade with Perfecto Mundo, first ascent of Excalibur (9b+) in 2023
Another climber who's playing at the elite 5.15 level and relentlessly pushing his limits outdoors is Italian Stefano Ghisolfi. Starting his climbing journey at just 13-years-old, Ghisolfi has racked up gold medals in the Lead World Cups and has four 9b+ routes and over 10 9bs under his belt.
Stefano Ghisolfi can do it all
© Matteo Mocellin/Red Bull Content Pool
On top of his incredible sport climbing ascents, he's also tackled five 8B (V13) and two 8B+ (V14) boulders. This year, Ghisolfi set himself the audacious goal of completing four 9b routes in one trip and he's also silently eyeing the 9c Silence route to fix his place in the exclusive 9c category.
11
Laura Rogora
- Born: April 28, 2001 – Italy
- Speciality: Sport Climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Second youngest climber to redpoint 9a (5.14d) at age 14, third female climber to send 9b (5.15b) in 2021
Following in the footsteps of legendary Italian climbers is the young and unstoppable Laura Rogora. At just 14, she made headlines as the second youngest climber to ever redpoint a 9a (5.14d) and by 2021, she made history again as the third woman to redpoint a 9b (5.15b). Rogora has also excelled in competition climbing, winning three golds out of four at the IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships in 2019 and even competing in the 2020 Olympics.
Her late-2024 run across Europe set a new bar in outdoor climbing. She claimed the FFA of Goldrake (5.14d/15a), sent multiple 5.15a’s, six 5.14d’s, four 5.14c’s and onsighted 5.14b. At Mišja Peč, she crushed several top-grade routes in a single week, cementing her status as one of climbing's most promising talents.
12
William Bosi
- Born: December 27, 1998 – United Kingdom
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering
- Standout climbs: Second ascent of Excalibur (9b+), becoming the first British climber to climb this grade. Climbed highest boulder grade of V17 (9A) in 2023
Among the UK's top climbing exports, Will Bosi has quietly become a powerhouse on both rock and boulder. He came to wider attention at 17 with a send of Rainshadow (9a) and then went on to become only the second Brit to climb 9b. In 2023, he made the first repeat of the legendary Burden of Dreams (V17), followed by Return of the Sleepwalker in 2024. Just last month, he crushed Excalibur (9b+) and opened El Dorado Sit (8C) in Sintra, Portugal. With 30 boulders at 8C and above - including four different 9As – Bosi's all-out rock focus is rewriting British climbing history.
13
Oriane Bertone
- Born: March 10, 2005 – France
- Speciality: Sport Climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climb: Youngest to complete a V14 (8B+) boulder at age 12
Oriane Bertone: another youngster who's been making history since childhood
© Widen Production/Matteo Challe/Red Bull Content Pool
Oriane Bertone's climbing story began by chance – killing time on a wall outside her sister's dance class. By 12, she became the youngest to climb a V14 (8B+) and at 15 she joined the small group of women to top a V15 (8C). She burst onto the comp scene at 16 with a silver in her World Cup debut. and then in 2023, she claimed her first IFSC World Cup gold in Prague by edging out the legendary Janja Garnbret. She wrapped up the 2024 Olympics with an impressive eighth-place finish, proving she's one of the fiercest young talents in the sport.
Watch climbing greats in Reel Rock
14
Tomoa Narasaki
- Born: June 22, 1996 - Japan
- Speciality: Speed climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Flashed two V14s, (Gakido and Decided) in 2019, won the Bouldering World Championship and Bouldering World Cup Combined
Japan is a factory of power climbers and Tomoa Narasaki is amongst the few who's made his mark on the world map. Starting out as a gymnast, Narasaki shifted to climbing at age 10 and his background gave him the explosive control he's now famous for. A bouldering master with over six World Cup wins, he makes complex sequences look smooth and effortless. Narasaki is also known for his speed climbing, setting a Japanese record (5.73s) in 2021 and inventing the famous 'Tomoa Skip' technique. He placed fourth at the 2020 Olympics and continues to be a force in comps and climbing innovation.
15
Jessica Pilz
- Born: November 22, 1996 – Austria
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering and competition climbing
- Standout climbs: Bronze medal at the Paris Olympic Games
Pilz conquered Verzasca Dam to win Red Bull Dual Ascent 2024
© Matteo Mocellin/Red Bull Content Pool
Often a calm and reserved presence at comps, Austrian climber Jessica Pilz thrives on long, endurance-heavy routes that burn out others. Pilz began competing in 2010 and quickly made her mark, winning the Lead title in three successive Youth World Championships from 2011 to 2013. Then, in 2014 she earned her first IFSC World Cup medal in Lead.
She stunned the climbing world in 2018 by defeating Janja Garnbret, Ja–In Kim and others to win gold at the World Championships. In 2024, she claimed the Lead World Cup overall title and won Red Bull Dual Ascent with Jakob Schubert. Outdoors? She's climbed Papichulo (9a+) in Oliana, Spain, so her power goes far beyond the competition wall.
16
Sorato Anraku
Sorato Anraku has made climbing history before his 18th birthday
© Suguru Saito/Red Bull Content Pool
- Born: November 14, 2006– Japan
- Speciality: Competition climbing lead and boulder
- Standout climbs: Silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games
Sorato Anraku is the rising star of Japanese climbing – and the future looks unstoppable. In his debut senior season in 2023, the 16-year-old sensation made history by becoming the first climber ever to win both the Lead and Boulder overall World Cup titles in the same year. Still just 18, Anraku continues to climb with purpose and precision, adding a silver medal at the Paris Olympics to what looks like a legendary climbing career already.
17
Sébastien Bouin
- Born: April 7, 1993 – France
- Speciality: Sport climbing, bouldering
- Standout climbs: Second person to climb 9c (5.15d)
25 min
DNA
French phenom Seb Bouin tackles what may be the world’s hardest sport climb in the Verdon Gorge.
Séb Bouin is the flagbearer of French sport climbing who thrives without any noise – always chasing the next mega line. Starting aged 11, he quickly climbed through the grades, sending his first 9a by 17. Unlike most elite climbers, Bouin shunned the competition scene to dedicate himself fully to the outdoors, where he's carved out a name by establishing and repeating some of the hardest routes on the planet.
With six 9b+ routes under his belt, he's Adam Ondra's go-to climbing partner and a visionary bolter seeking bold new lines. In 2025 alone, he's made the first ascent of El Gran Cabrón (9b) in China – the country's hardest route – and Wolf Kingdom (9b+) at Pic Saint Loup.
18
All-time greats
Sasha DiGiulian
From sending 5.14d routes to running a successful business, Sasha DiGiulian’s showing the world that athletes can crush in both sport and entrepreneurship.
Sasha DiGiuliani has climbed to the very top her sport
© Pablo Durana/Red Bull Content Pool
Alex Honnold climbs through the enduro corner on El Capitan
© National Geographic/Jimmy Chin
Alex Honnold
His legendary free solo of El Capitan changed climbing forever. Now, with the Plumber's Crack speed record, environmental activism and his podcast, Honnold's still shaping the future of the sport.
Alexander Huber
A pioneer of modern hard climbing, Huber's legacy lives on through his iconic routes. At over 55, he just sent the 8c+ trad testpiece Mythos – proof that legends don't fade.
Alexander Huber climbs Kommunist in Tyrol
© Heinz Zak
Dai Koyamada
Japan's OG crusher, Dai Koyamada has been pushing bouldering limits for over two decades. At 48, he's still putting up V15s like Kaikien – a true force from the East.
Nalle Hukkataival
The first to send a V17 with Burden of Dreams, Hukkataival remains at the edge of cutting-edge bouldering, still climbing hard and setting up new boulder problems.
Daniel Woods bouldering in Switzerland
© CFF / Red Bull Content Pool
Daniel Woods
America's bouldering beast is still chasing V17s and projecting new 9As. Daniel Woods has been in the game since his teens and shows no signs of slowing down.
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