Team USA’s climbers have achieved much since the Tokyo Games.
The eight American sport climbers heading to the 2024 Olympics include a bouldering world champion, multiple speed climbing record breakers, an Olympic qualifier winner, and contenders who have nearly unseated world champions. There’s been so much talent developing recently that the United States was the only country to fill out every Olympic quota spot for sport climbing.
With the separation of the speed event from bouldering and lead combined event after Tokyo, the roster will also have a chance for more medals in their respective disciplines.
Meet the 2024 U.S. Olympic sport climbing team below.
For a full list of athletes who have qualified for Paris 2024, check out our article on Olympic sport climbing qualification.
Natalia Grossman (Women's bouldering and lead)
Three-time World Cup bouldering champion Natalia Grossman is more than prepared to debut her bouldering skills in Paris. The 23-year-old scored her ticket to the Olympics by winning gold in the combined event at the Pan American Games, with help from her strong boulder round. At the climbing wall in Le Bourget, she and longtime friend Brooke Raboutou will compete against reigning Olympic gold medalist Janja Garnbret of Slovenia.
Brooke Raboutou (Women's bouldering and lead)
One of USA Climbing’s up-and-coming talents, Brooke Raboutou will make her second Olympic appearance in Paris. After placing fifth in Tokyo, the 23-year-old won bronze in bouldering at the 2023 World Championships. More recently, she won the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest after qualifying with the highest scores in boulder and lead during the semifinal. In between rounds, expect the Colorado native to mention her family’s connection to France.
Emma Hunt (Women’s speed)
Emma Hunt, 21, of Georgia, was one of the first sport climbers to qualify for Paris and among the fastest American women climbers. She broke her record at the national team trials and set a new women’s speed American and Pan American record with 6.44 seconds at the IFSC World Cup event in Wujiang. Hunt earned a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships by beating Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw, who previously set a world record in Tokyo.
Piper Kelly (Women’s speed)
In a surprising end to the Pan American finals, 24-year-old Piper Kelly beat speed record holder Emma Hunt due to a false start. With a round of 7.52 seconds, the climber from Indianapolis claimed her spot on the Olympic team. At the 2024 Salt Lake City World Cup, she placed sixth and recorded her best IFSC competition time of 7.47 seconds. Next, Kelly will bring her unique approach to the speed wall route to Paris.
Colin Duffy (Men's bouldering and lead)
Colin Duffy has gone from the youngest climber to qualify for the Tokyo Games, at age 17, to a two-time Olympian. The now-20-year-old claimed his Paris 2024 spot by winning silver in men’s combined at the 2023 World Championships, behind Austria’s Jakob Schubert. He's currently ranked seventh in the world in men’s bouldering and lead and trains alongside fellow Olympian Brooke Raboutou in their home state of Colorado.
Jesse Grupper (Men's bouldering and lead)
Over a year before qualifying for the 2024 Olympics, Jesse Grupper, 27, said on social media he was working full-time in an engineering lab and months later sprained his LCL. He then went on to have an incredible season, winning three IFSC World Cup medals and gold in men’s combined at the 2023 Pan American Games. Though he’s been on the competitive climbing circuit for years, his career took off the year following sport climbing’s Olympic debut in Tokyo.
Zach Hammer (Men’s speed)
Zach Hammer is another speed recorder holder heading to Paris. The Michigan climber holds the American male youth speed record of 5.12 seconds. He qualified for Paris at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest by finishing seventh. Leading up to his Olympic debut he’s been training to get his time under five seconds.
Sam Watson (Men’s speed)
In a spectacular start to his 2024 season, Sam Watson, I8, broke the men’s speed record at the IFSC World Cup in Wujiang. He beat Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo's record twice, in his first run with 4.85 seconds and again in his second run with 4.79 seconds. As the fastest climber heading into Paris, the Pan American Games champion is well placed to be the first up the wall in his elimination heats.
