The IFSC Paraclimbing World Championships are the biennial world championships for competition climbing for people with disabilities organized by the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC). This event determines the male and female world champions in various categories.

History

The first event was organized in Arco in 2011, held together with the IFSC Climbing World Championships.

Championships

EditionYearLocationDate(s)DisciplinesAthletesNationsWebsiteNotes
LeadSpeed
12011Italy Arco18–19 JulyXX
22012France Paris12–16 SeptemberX
32014Spain Gijón11–14 SeptemberX
42016France Paris14–18 SeptemberX
52018Austria Innsbruck10–16 SeptemberX
62019France Briançon16–17 JulyX
72021Russia Moscow15–17 SeptemberX
82023Switzerland Bern1–12 AugustX
92025South Korea Seoul20–25 SeptemberX

Classifications and Categories

A wide range of different people take part in Paraclimbing, including visually impaired climbers, climbers with limb differences and those with brain injuries or mobility impairments. Higher numbers equate to higher functionality (less impairment), lower numbers equate to lower functionality (more impairment).

Paraclimbing categories according to the 2024 IFSC regulations
CategoryCriteriaExample image
Visual impairmentB1Visual acuity is poorer than LogMAR 2.60 (blindness)
B2LogMAR of 1.50 − 2.60 and/or visual field of less than 10°
B3LogMAR of 1 − 1.40 (20/200 − 20/500 on the Snellen chart) and/or visual field of less than 40°
Upper limb(s)AU2One upper limb has reduced function below the athletes elbow and does not have a functional wrist joint
AU3One hand or multiple digits across both hands are absent or have reduced function
Lower limb(s)AL1Significantly reduced functional use for climbing or absence of bilateral lower limbs
AL2Impairment in a single lower limb or leg length difference
Range and powerRP1Impairment across all eligible impairment types with severe impairment to function affecting at least 2 limbs or a single upper limb is absent or has severely limited functional use
RP2Impairment across all eligible impairment types with moderate impairment to function affecting the trunk and/or limbs
RP3Impairment across all eligible impairment types with mild impairment to function affecting the trunk and/or limbs

In the 2022-2023 season AU1 was permanently combined with RP1, and a new category of upper arm limb difference was added. AU3 is the designated sport class for athletes with limb differences between the wrist and tips of the fingers. With a minimum impairment of a loss of 6 finger joints across both hands. Prior to the creation of this sport class many AU3 athletes classified in RP3.

Merging

Merging order of paraclimbing categories. Since 2023, AU1 has been permanently merged into RP1.

If there is an insufficient number of competitors in a given category, this category can be merged into another, 'harder' category. In world championships at least six athletes from four countries must compete in each category. Merges may be performed sequentially until the required number of competitors is met.

Men's results

Speed

YearCategoryGoldSilverBronze
2011Amputee Arm PDRussia Mikhail Saparov--
Amputee Both Leg PDChina Boyu Xia--
Amputee Leg PDSpain Urko Carmona BarandiaranGermany Günther GrausamItaly Oliviero Bellinzani
Arthritis+Neurological PDHungary András SzijártóItaly Matteo AlberghiniFrance Philippe Ribière
Complete Neurological Leg Disability PDGermany Sebastian Richter--
Visual Impairment B1Italy Matteo StefaniSpain Manuel Cepero GutierrezRussia Roman Kostyakov
Visual Impairment B2Italy Simone SalvagninItaly Oliviero Bellinzani-
Visual Impairment B3Spain Domingo Carretero CamponSpain Ricardo Pérez Amado-

Lead

YearCategoryGoldSilverBronze
2011Amputee Arm PDRussia Mikhail Saparov--
Amputee Both Leg PDChina Boyu Xia--
Amputee Leg PDJapan Mineo OnoSpain Urko Carmona BarandiaranGermany Alexander Biermann
Arthritis+Neurological PDHungary András SzijártóItaly Matteo MasentoItaly Alessio Cornamusini
Complete Neurological Leg Disability PDGermany Sebastian Richter--
Visual Impairment B1Italy Matteo Stefani[fr]Spain Manuel Cepero GutierrezRussia Roman Kostyakov
Visual Impairment B2Japan Koichiro Kobayashi[fr]Japan Masayoshi IdomotoItaly Simone Salvagnin
Visual Impairment B3Spain Ricardo Pérez AmadoSpain Domingo Carretero Campon-
2012Amputee Leg PDSpain Urko Carmona BarandiaranJapan Mineo OnoUnited States Craig Demartino
Arthritis+Neurological PD1India Manikandan KumarBrazil Raphael NishimuraFrance Mathieu Besnard
Visual Impairment B1France Nicolas Moineau[fr]Japan Kenji IwamotoItaly Matteo Stefani
Visual Impairment B2Japan Sho AitaJapan Koichiro KobayashiItaly Simone Salvagnin
2014Amputee Leg PDSpain Urko Carmona BarandiaranUnited States Ronald DicksonUnited States Craig Demartino
Visual Impairment B1Japan Koichiro KobayashiFrance Nicolas MoineauItaly Matteo Stefani
Neurological Physical Disability AFrance Mathieu BesnardIndia Manikandan KumarIran Behnam Khalaji
Neurological Physical Disability BHungary András SzijártóItaly Alessio CornamusiniFrance Serge Laurencin
2016B1Japan Koichiro Kobayashi[fr]France Nicolas Moineau[fr]Italy Matteo Stefani
B2Japan Sho AitaFrance Mathieu BarbeItaly Simone Salvagnin
AL-2Spain Albert Guardia FerrerFrance Julien Gasc[fr]Spain Iván Germán Pascual
RP1Germany Korbinian FranckGermany Nils HelsperUnited States Connor King
RP2Israel Nive PoratItaly Alessio CornamusiniRussia Vladimir Netsvetaev-Dolgalev[fr]
RP3France Romain Pagnoux[fr]France Mathieu BesnardSlovenia Gregor Selak
2018AU-2United Kingdom Matthew PhillipsUnited States Trevor SmithRussia Maksim Maiorov
B1Japan Koichiro KobayashiItaly Matteo StefaniSpain Francisco Javier Aguilar Amoedo[fr]
B2United States Justin SalasSpain Raul Simon FrancoJapan Fumiya Hamanoue[fr]
AL-2France Thierry Delarue[fr]Spain Urko Carmona BarandiaranSpain Albert Guardia Ferrer
RP1Italy Alessio CornamusiniGermany Korbinian FranckGermany Nils Helsper
RP2Iran Behnam KhalajiIsrael Nive PoratIndia Manikandan Kumar
RP3France Romain PagnouxUnited Kingdom Michael CleverdonSlovenia Gregor Selak
2019AU-2United Kingdom Matthew PhillipsIsrael Mor Michael SapirGermany Kevin Bartke
B1Japan Koichiro KobayashiSpain Francisco Javier Aguilar AmoedoRussia Daniil Lisichenko
B2Japan Sho AitaUnited States Justin SalasUnited Kingdom Richard Slocock
B3Romania Cosmin Florin CandoiUnited Kingdom Lux Losey SailJapan Motohiro Ejiri
AL-2France Thierry DelarueSpain Urko Carmona BarandiaranSpain Albert Guardia Ferrer
RP1France Bastien ThomasItaly Alessio CornamusiniGermany Korbinian Franck
RP2Iran Behnam KhalajiUnited States Benjamin MayforthIndia Manikandan Kumar
RP3France Romain PagnouxFrance Mathieu BesnardSlovenia Gregor Selak
2021B1Japan Sho AitaRomania Razvan NeduUnited Kingdom Jesse Dufton
B2Japan Fumiya HamanoueUnited Kingdom Richard SlocockSpain Raul Simon Franco
RP1Austria Angelino Zeller[de]United States Tanner CislawGermany Korbinian Franck
RP2Israel Mor Michael SapirUnited States Benjamin MayforthFrance Bastien Thomas
RP3France Romain PagnouxFrance Mathieu BesnardIran Iman Edrisi
AL1France Thierry DelarueBelgium Frederik LeysJapan Shuhei Yuki
AU2United Kingdom Matthew PhillipsUnited States Brian ZarzuelaGermany Kevin Bartke
2023B1Japan Sho AitaSpain Francisco Javier Aguilar AmoedoRomania Răzvan Nedu
B2Japan Fumiya HamanoueUnited Kingdom Richard SlocockSpain Guillermo Pelegrín Gómez
B3Romania Cosmin Florin CandoiJapan Kazuhiro MinowadaUnited Kingdom Lux Losey Sail
AL1Austria Angelino Zeller[de]Austria Markus PösendorferUnited States Tanner Cislaw
AL2France Thierry DelarueUnited States Ethan ZilzSpain Albert Guardia Ferrer
AU2Norway Isak RipmanGermany Kevin BartkeUnited States Brian Zarzuela
AU3Israel Mor Michael SapirJapan Nobuhiro YusaraokaSwitzerland Dominic Geisseler
RP1France Aloïs Pottier[fr]United States Elliott NguyenJapan Takuya Okada
RP2Israel Mor Michael SapirUnited States Benjamin MayforthFrance Bastien Thomas
RP3Spain Iván Muñoz EscolarUnited States Benjamin MayforthIndia Manikandan Kumar

Women's Results

Speed

YearCategoryGoldSilverBronze
2011Amputee Arm PDSpain Paula De la Calle Pizarro--
Arthritis+Neurological PDUkraine Valentyna Kurshakova--
Visual Impairment B1Italy Silvia ParenteRussia Dilyara Rakhmankulova-
Visual Impairment B2Russia Tatiana Panova--

Lead

YearCategoryGoldSilverBronze
2011Amputee Arm PDSpain Paula De la Calle Pizarro--
Arthritis+Neurological PDUkraine Valentyna Kurshakova--
Visual Impairment B1Russia Dilyara RakhmankulovaItaly Silvia Parente-
Visual Impairment B2Russia Tatiana Panova--
2012Visual ImpairmentRussia Dilyara RakhmankulovaItaly Silvia ParenteItaly Giulia Poggioli
Physical DisabilityUnited Kingdom Frances BrownItaly Silvia Giacobbo Dal PràUkraine Valentyna Kurshakova
2014Amputee Leg PDUnited States Christa BrelsfordCanada Kate Sawford[fr]United Kingdom Esme Harte
Visual Impairment B2Italy Alessia RefoloSlovenia Tanja GlusicItaly Giulia Poggioli
Neurological Physical Disability ABelgium Elodie Orbaen[fr]Italy Tiziana PaoliniFrance Oriane Moreno
2016AU-2United States Maureen BeckHungary Melinda VighItaly Lucia Capovilla
AL-2France Lucie Jarrige[de; fr]Canada Kate Sawford[fr]United Kingdom Esme Harte
RP3Belgium Elodie Orbaen[fr]France Oriane MorenoJapan Aika Yoshida[fr]
2018AU-2France Solenne Piret[fr; de]Hungary Melinda VighUnited States Maureen Beck
B2United Kingdom Abigail Robinson[de; fr]United States Whiteny PesekSlovenia Tanja Glusic
AL-2France Lucie Jarrige[fr]Canada Kate Sawford[fr]United States Emily Stephenson[fr]
RP2United Kingdom Hannah Baldwin[fr]France Marlene Prat[fr]United Kingdom Anita Aggarwal[fr]
RP3Japan Aika Yoshida[fr]Japan Momoko Yoshida[fr]Belgium Elodie Orbaen
2019AU-2France Solenne Piret[fr; de]United States Maureen BeckHungary Melinda Vigh
B2United Kingdom Abigail RobinsonJapan Yumi EjiriAustria Edith Scheinecker
AL-2France Lucie JarrigeUnited Kingdom Joanna NewtonGermany Jaqueline Fritz
RP2United Kingdom Hannah BaldwinUnited Kingdom Anita AggarwalUnited Kingdom Leanora Volpe
RP3Japan Aika YoshidaJapan Momoko YoshidaUnited Kingdom Martha Evans[fr]
2021B2United Kingdom Abigail RobinsonAustria Edith ScheineckerItaly Nadia Bredice
B3Romania Ionela GrecuSlovenia Tanja Glusic[fr]Indonesia Sunita Dhondappanavar
RP1Belgium Pavitra Vandenhoven[fr]Netherlands Eva MolSpain Marta Peche Salinero
RP2France Solenne Piret[fr; de]United Kingdom Leanora VolpeItaly Lucia Capovilla
RP3France Lucie JarrigeUnited Kingdom Martha EvansAustria Katharina Ritt
2023B1in B2
B2United Kingdom Abigail RobinsonUnited States Seneida BiendarraAustria Edith Scheinecker
B3India Sunita DhondappanavarJapan Mika MaeokaJapan Yumi Ejiri
AL1in RP1
AL2France Lucie JarrigeAustralia Sarah LarcombeAustralia Rachel Maia
AU2France Solenne Piret[fr; de]Italy Lucia CapovillaUnited States Maureen Beck
AU3in RP3
RP1Belgium Pavitra VandenhovenUnited States Melissa RuizSpain Marta Peche Salinero
RP2Norway Dina EivikAustria Jasmin PlankUnited States Anna Devries
RP3Brazil Marina DiasNetherlands Christiane LuttikhuizenUnited Kingdom Martha Evans
2025B1
B2
B3
AL1in RP1
AL2
AU2
AU3
RP1
RP2
RP3

External links

  • . www.ifsc-climbing.org.
  • . www.ifsc-climbing.org.