Janja Garnbret, Brooke Raboutou Advance to Olympic Finals

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By the time the women began the Lead event, it was dark out in Aomi Urban Sports Park, Tokyo. The route, which zigged up a 15 meter (45 foot) wall, consisted of a tenuous crimpy start, followed by a section of pinches, which the commentator accurately referred to as a “trap-door section.” Difficulty increased with height.

Brooke Raboutou, from the US, looked composed. She briefly closed her eyes before pulling onto the start. She moved with her usual mixture of confidence and grace. Although Raboutou really didn’t have to make it far to advance to the final round, she fought hard for every hold. She finished the Lead round in eighth, and with a Combined ranking of fifth. Raboutou will join her teammates Colin Duffy and Nathaniel Coleman in advancing to finals. 

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