Hear from the climbers at the World Climbing Series event in Prague, Czechia
MEN'S LEAD FINAL
Putra Tri Ramadani, Indonesia - GOLD
“This is the second final and the first medal for me, so obviously I’m happy and hopefully I can do this weel again next time.
“It was a diffcult final especially at the top section. It was a difficult route and definitely made me pumped.”
MEN'S LEAD SEMI-FINAL
Jakob Schubert, Austria
“I’m really happy Adam [Ondra] made it as well, we are the two old guns so hand in hand going into the final is great for the atmosphere if he is in it. It’s going to be great.”
“I had a nice time. It was a super nice atmosphere here and I’m really excited to make it to the final as qualis didn’t go super well and luckily I could perform much better here in the semi-final.”
“I’m completely healthy this year. I felt a little bit rusty bit it’s good to be in a World Climbing Series and see the intensity of the routes and see what you have to work on. There’s always room for improvement and I can realise what I need to work on. But I am feeling good and hopefully I can challenge for a podium tonight.”
WOMEN'S LEAD FINAL
Annie Sanders, USA - GOLD
“It was super fun. The route climber very bouldery which I think suited my style quite a bit. I managed to find the hand hold at the top that led to the crimp that helped me take the win.
“It was incredible. I’m really tired. But it was super cool and the crowd was super supportive. Yeah, I’m pretty excited.”
WOMEN'S LEAD SEMI-FINAL
Jain Kim, South Korea
“It’s unbelieveable. It’s been a while since I was in a final so I’m really happy and now ready to enjoy the final.”
“I still feel nerves and still feel the excitement. And it’s good that guys like Adam and Jakob will also be in the final. It’s going to be a good night.”
MEN'S BOULDER FINAL
Sorato Anraku, Japan - GOLD
“I can’t really say anything. I don’t really understand how to feel, but it’s good to relieve some pressure. The final round was a bit coordination on the slab, and this is not my style.”
“I know the record, but I don’t care so much. I just love competing.”
MEN'S BOULDER SEMI-FINAL
Max Bertone, France
“I’m the French Boulder champion this season so I knew I had the potential as I have trained a lot in Boulder recently, and not so much in Lead, and I think that has paid off. But I am really surprised in myself that I was capable of doing World [Climbing] Series boulders.”
“You see people not coming back quickly so you know it is a hard round. I saw Lucas [Trandafir] next to me on the mat celebrating after making the zone like he made the final so I said to myself, if I do the zone also I will make the final. I did, and I heard my sister screaming and I just knew. That’s when I exploded.”
Lucas Trandafir, Germany
“I gave everything. Right now everything hurts. I gave it my max effort.”
“I watched my team and they celebrated. I kind of looked at them and asked and they said yes. It’s my first final.”
“As soon as I get back to the hotel I will fall asleep I think.”
BOULDER QUALIFICATION
Camilla Moroni, Italy
“The round was easy, but I’m happy with my climbing because I feel like I have improved my flash climbing. I was nervous in the call zone because I knew the boulders were easy. My parents also come to watch me in the semis so I knew I couldn’t miss out on them.”
“All the girls before me came back into the call zone after like a minute so I knew they would all be easy.”
Zoe Peetermans, Great Britain
“My round went really well. I topped all five boulders and qualified the highest I ever have for a semi-final.”
“I thought you had to do five tops to make semi’s, maybe you didn’t quite need it. I think I thrive when the boulders are a bit easier because it rewards not making mistake, and because they are a harder level for me, I just have to give it my all and fight, fight, fight. That gives me better emotions in the round, and the better my emotions the better I climb normally.”
Lucas Trandafir, Germany
“I really had a lot of fun. I was a bit nervous as I slept really, really bad last night and I felt like my concentration wasn’t the best, but somehow, I pulled it through and it was a really good round for me.”
“My goal is to get into finals at some point this season, but for the semi-final I do not have any real expectations."
“This year everything is so tight and anything can happen, but I will try to get into the final.”
Nicolai Uznik, Austria
“I’m very happy. I didn’t have the best start to the season missing the semis in both Bern and Madrid. I was very close, so it was a bit heartbreaking. But I knew eventually I could show exactly what shape I am in. I’ve left it all behind and I climbed a bit more freely today so I’m very happy.”
“I already felt good in Madrid, maybe I got a little unlucky. Today I actually felt a bit worse in warm up, but I actually ended up doing very good on the mats, so maybe it was more of a mental change to climb a bit more freely and focus on myself.”
LEAD QUALIFICATION
Giovanni Placchi, Italy
“I’m quite happy with my climbing. In the first route I had an amazing run where I was second, and in the second it was a bit less as I was a bit more relaxed because I already knew I was in. Fifth overall is a good position to go into the semi-final round. I’m excited for Sunday.”
“Adam [Ondra] told me already it was going to be cool, but I didn’t expect such a sick venue. As soon as I went in I was super excited and already my mind went to the finals."
“I feel like I am in a World Champs already because of the venue and all the OGs here like Adam and Jakob [Schubert]. It’s such an honour to climb with those guys and I hope I can do it for all rounds.”
Aleksandra Totkova, Bulgaria
“I’m really happy with my first route as I climbed super free and it was my style. I really enjoyed it. The second I got a bit angry as I fell on the jump, but we have other rounds so we will see.”
"I wanted to do my best and I can see I am in good shape, so I want more. Everyone wants to go to the final, and I want one of those places. I need a good mindset, which I think I have.”