Olympics Photo of the Day: A Steep Climb

British sport climber Molly Thompson-Smith hangs on by her fingertips

Olympics Photo of the Day: A Steep Climb
A climber, seen in silhouette, navigates a steep reverse-inclined course at the Olympics.
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty

Olympic sport climbing is divided into two medal events, speed and combined boulder and lead. In the lead format, athletes have six minutes to climb as high as they can, scaling a wall more than 15 meters high, without having seen the route beforehand. The steepest sections of the climb have a 42-degree reverse incline. Here, Britain’s Molly Thompson-Smith is seen in silhouette, hanging from one hand while competing in the women’s sport climbing lead semi-final.

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