The New Zealand Speed Climbing team is wrapping up training in the Bay of Plenty and heading to Europe – to fight to retain its place among the world's fastest.

Eighteen-year-olds Flynn Chisholm, Julian David and Abby Gerbert and 23-year-old Sarah Tetzlaff are competing at World Cup events. Twenty-year-old Jorja Rangi will join the team for the World Champs in Switzerland.

'It's safe to say that BOP is home to some of the fastest speed climbers in the world. We're currently around the top 30,” says head coach Rob Moore.

'At the World Cup in Seoul in April, Julian broke the NZ National Men's record and the Oceania Men's record, running 6.43 seconds. Sarah broke the NZ National Women's record running 9.56 seconds.”

It's taken a lot of dedication by the squad. 'All the athletes train twice-a-day. They have a weights programme three times a week, as well as stretching and mobility, and work with a mental coach. Then they also spend hours on the climbing wall,” says Rob.

'They consistently amaze me. They have their individual goals and together we're all hitting targets as well. I couldn't be more proud of them.”

The inclusion of speed climbing as a separate competition in the Paris 2024 Olympics has intensified the sport, says Rob.

Moving goal posts

'We are day-by-day implementing our plan to be amongst the best in the world,” says Rob. 'But at the top level, the goal posts are moving very fast. Becoming an Olympic sport has brought a lot of countries into the game that weren't previously putting in the effort or funding.”

Rob has seen substantial growth and development in speed climbing.

'We are having to push really hard to keep on track,” says Rob. 'For example, between 2017 and 2021 the world record was 5.48 seconds.

Since 2021, the world record has been broken nine times in competition and is currently 4.90 seconds. The world record of 5.48 that was held for four years is no longer even fast enough to make a quarter final!”

First Olympic spots

In Europe, the BOP team will spend a month in the French Alps, competing in two world cups in Villars, Switzerland, on July 2; and Chamonix, France, on July 8.

Then the team will relocate to Grenoble for training, culminating in the World Championships in Bern, Switzerland, on August 10. 'This is a one-off world championship event – a big one that happens every two years,” says Rob.

'At this event the first Olympic spots will be up for grabs, so all the best in the world will be there.”

The athletes'' programme is supported by High Performance Sport NZ and sponsors Rab and Madrock provide gear, but the majority is self-funded.

'The athletes pay for their travel, accommodation, food, transport, overseas gym facilities and everything in between,” says Rob. 'Most of the parents on the programme have taken second jobs to support the athletes on the world stage. It's a massive commitment. It definitely takes a whole community to create champions!”