Japanese Ai Mori demonstrated her skills as a leader in sport climbing (boulder and lead) at the Olympic Games in Paris on Saturday, but missed a podium place and took fourth place in the final of the eight women.

The 20-year-old Olympic debutant achieved the highest overall score of 96.1 points, but the meager 39.0 points she had previously scored in bouldering proved costly as she ended up with a total score of 135.1.

Japanese Ai Mori will compete in the preliminary round of the women’s bouldering and lead climbing finals in sport climbing at the Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue in Le Bourget near Paris on August 10, 2024, at the Olympic Games in Paris. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

Slovenia’s Janja Garnbret won her second consecutive Olympic gold medal after taking first place in bouldering with 84.4 and third place in the lead with 84.1, for a total score of 168.5.

Brooke Raboutou from the USA took silver with 156.0 and Jessica Pilz from Austria took bronze with 147.4 in the Le Bourget climbing area.

Mori was the only climber to attempt the upper hold in the lead after the 2023 world champion in the discipline combined tenacity and calm to climb the wall.

Japan’s Ai Mori thanks the crowd after finishing in the lead lap during the women’s bouldering and lead climbing finals at the Le Bourget sport climbing stadium near Paris on Aug. 10, 2024, at the Paris Olympic Games. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo

But her problems in bouldering – she failed to reach a zone on the first of four problems and only cleared one, giving her the seventh-best score – meant the podium was out of her reach.

“Being able to climb in a relaxed manner and at the same time show my strength on a big stage at the Olympic Games is a positive experience and should give me confidence,” said Mori.

“There were moments when I was almost overwhelmed by the unique atmosphere, but I finished with a typical climb and enjoyed it.”

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