Slovenians triumph at IFSC World Cup Munich
Munich, 19 August - Slovenian climbers reached a new milestone in Munich on Saturday, having won three medals at the IFSC World Cup event. Janja Garnbret and Gregor Vezonik won in their respective categories and Jernej Kruder was second, which earned him the overall victory in the bouldering World Cup.
Kranj
Slovenia's climber Janja Garnbret.
Photo: Stanko Gruden/STA
The reigning combined season champion Garnbret beat her Japanese rivals in the women's final to claim the final gold medal of the season in Munich. Japan's Miho Nonaka and Akiyo Noghuchi finished second and third, respectively.
Slovenia excelled in the men's semi-finals and final as well, where the 23-year-old Vezovnik bagged his first World Cup victory after finishing second twice before this year. This time he left the second place to his fellow countryman Kruder, who became the first Slovenian to win overall, while Austrian Jakob Schubert was third.
As many as four Slovenians finished among the top ten overall in this year's bouldering World Cup. Kruder was first, Vezonik fifth, Garnbret fourth among women and Katja Kadić fifth.
"I worked very hard to get to this. It's my childhood dreams come true," said Vezonik.
Kruder said the success "means a lot" to him, while Garnbret said she was delighted. "I climbed with no pressure, I was confident, I felt good," she said.