WORLD CLIMBING SERIES KOPER 2026: WHAT THE ATHLETES SAID
Hear from the athletes at the Lead event in Koper, Slovenia
FINALS
Janja Garnbret, Slovenia - gold medallist
“It feels amazing to compete in front of the home crowd. I’m not competing much but every time I step out onto the field, I feel I am in competition mode.
“The route was fantastic, but I have to say I was fighting with the humidity. I was sliding off every hold. First there was a scary moment on the yellow pocket, I had zero chalk, but also the upper purple part was super humid, so I am glad I came up to that point.”
Neo Suzuki, Japan - gold medallist
“I’m so happy because I’ve been training really hard since Chamonix.
“The route was maybe my style, but it was very hard and kept getting harder and harder.”
SEMI-FINALS
Brooke Raboutou, USA
“I felt confident on the under cling. It was a powerful move, but I felt I could lock it off and catch the hold in a good position. My goal was to get to the head wall and then try to reset and go for the top.”
“I’m super happy. It feels good to be back in a final.
“I’ll have a good dinner tonight, maybe watch a show or read a book to wind down. And tomorrow I actually really enjoy having the morning off to do my meditation and have a slow-paced day before getting fired up for the final.”
Giovanni Placci, Italy
“I climbed well but I got a bit too psyched as I heard from the crowd I had moved into first, and after being ninth in quali it was great to be in first. I need to work on it and not get to psyched and think about a top. When I am high on the wall here, I listen to the crowd, which is a mistake, I need to work to it.”
“I hope to be able to rest and chill and I just want to enjoy my last climb of the year as this is my last comp. I think I have a good mindset and after Laval I have nothing to lose now as I have already achieved a good result.”
QUALIFICATION
Luka Potocar, Slovenia
"It could be better, as always. I read the route a bit wrong and I was confused with my feet at some points in both routes and it cost me better results."
"I think Prague and Innsbruck was good, making the finals. I wished I climbed better, but in Chamonix everything came together and I climbed well, pretty relaxed, and the result came. I was happy with second, I was angry because my hand slipped, but I also happy for Alberto, it was a great competition for both of us."
"There are a lot of people here that I know so it is a bit crazy. There’s a lot of support. The wall we all know. Altogether I enjoy competing here."
Rafael Kazbekova, Ukraine
"I’m very happy. I found my flow in the second route, and I enjoyed it so much, it was my style. It was good to just climb for myself and not think about the result. It’s my first year on the World Series and it felt amazing to climb here. It was the best fight I had for this season, and I gave it my all."
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