Thirteen climbers are set to make their international debut, while South Korea’s Kim Ja In approaches an important milestone
The World Climbing Series Koper 2026 is the 426th World Cup or World Climbing Series event in history, as well as the 241st Lead competition for both women and men. It is the fifth event to be held in Koper and the 33rd in Slovenia.
A total of 147 athletes from 37 nations across five continents are registered to compete. Bosnia and Herzegovina will be represented at a World Cup or World Climbing Series event for the first time.
ATHLETES’ HIGHLIGHTS
South Korea’s Kim Ja In is set to make her 110th Lead competition start. She currently ranks third on the all-time list, behind Austria’s Barbara Bacher with 116 starts and Italy’s Jenny Lavarda with 112. Austria’s Jessica Pilz will make her 63rd Lead start, while home favourite Janja Garnbret will make her 53rd.
Jakob Schubert is approaching his 100th Lead competition start, with Koper marking his 91st. He sits third in the men’s all-time ranking behind Spain’s Ramón Julian Puigblanque with 129 starts and France’s Romain Desgranges with 117.
Germany’s Sebastian Halenke will become his country’s record holder for the most Lead competition starts, reaching 59 and overtaking Christian Bindhammer.
The female athletes making their overall debut in Koper are:
- Riley DOHERTY (CAN)
- Adriana PINEDA (CHI)
- Maksa TIŠLER MOCNIK (SLO)
The male athletes making their overall debut in Koper are:
- Connor LINEEN (AUS)
- Adnan GREBOVIĆ (BIH)
- Denis SERDAREVIĆ (BIH)
- Carter COLLEAUX (CAN)
- Nathaniel SMITH (CAN)
- Matan SAT (ISR)
- Hiroto NISHIO (JPN)
- Manato KURASHIKI (JPN)
- Chanjin JUNG (KOR)
- Matias GUTIERREZ RESTREPO (MEX)
- Ryan SMIT (RSA)
- Jaka JAKI (SLO)
- Vahap KARADAĞ (TUR)
PREVIOUS RESULTS
IFSC World Cup Koper 2025:
Women's Lead:
- Janja GARNBRET (SLO)
- Chaehyun SEO (KOR)
- Laura ROGORA (ITA)
Men's Lead:
- Sorato ANRAKU (JPN)
- Alberto GINÉS LÓPEZ (ESP)
- Toby ROBERTS (GBR)
IFSC World Cup Koper 2024:
Women's Lead:
- Janja GARNBRET (SLO)
- Jessica PILZ (AUT)
- Annie SANDERS (USA)
Men's Lead:
- Toby ROBERTS (GBR)
- Sorato ANRAKU (JPN)
- Sam AVEZOU (FRA)
IFSC World Cup Koper 2023:
Women's Lead:
- Janja GARNBRET (SLO)
- Ai MORI (JPN)
- Vita LUKAN (SLO)
Men's Lead:
- Sorato ANRAKU (JPN)
- Jesse GRUPPER (USA)
- Alberto GINÉS LÓPEZ (ESP)
IFSC World Cup Koper 2022:
Women's Lead:
- Ai MORI (JPN)
- Janja GARNBRET (SLO)
- Brooke RABOUTOU (USA)
Men's Lead:
- Luka POTOCAR (SLO)
- Sascha LEHMANN (SUI)
- Yannick FLOHÉ (GER)
THE PROGRAMME
The World Climbing Series Koper 2026 begins tomorrow, Friday, 4 September, with Lead qualifications at 09:00 (UTC+2:00), Lead semi-finals will follow at 20:00. The men’s Lead final opens day two on Saturday, 5 September at 20:00, followed by the women’s final.
News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.