Yoni Katz Wins World Cup Gold, Historic Success for Israeli Climbing
Translated & summarized from Davar by baba
Israeli climber Yoni Katz won a gold medal at the Boulder World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA, the first for Israel since 2018. The Israeli delegation saw unprecedented success, with four men reaching the semifinals and two, Katz and Or Mark, reaching the finals. The CEO of the Israel Climbing Association called it the most successful year in Israeli bouldering history, attributing it to a long-term professional process. The team aims for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Yoni Katz won gold at the Boulder World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA.
- This is the first World Cup gold for Israel in bouldering since 2018.
- Four Israeli men reached the semifinals, and two reached the finals, a historic first.
- The season marks the most successful year for Israeli bouldering in history.
- The Israel Climbing Association CEO cited a long-term professional process for the success.
- The team's next goal is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Israeli climber Yoni Katz won a gold medal at the Boulder World Cup in Salt Lake City, USA, marking the first time Israel has stood atop the podium in the competition since Alex Hazanov in 2018. Katz was the only competitor to successfully complete the final boulder problem, securing his victory and the Israeli national anthem playing in the United States.
The Israeli delegation achieved unprecedented success at the event, with all four male Israeli representatives in the qualifiers, Adi Barak, Tomer Yaacobovitch, Or Mark, and Yoni Katz, advancing to the semifinals. Katz and Mark further progressed to the finals, a historic first for Israeli climbing in the Boulder World Cup. Mark finished in sixth place.
This competition was the final stop of the 2026 World Cup season and concluded the most successful year in the history of Israeli bouldering, for both adult and youth categories. Throughout the season, Israeli climbers reached five adult World Cup finals and achieved significant results in European and global competitions. Additionally, two Israeli youth climbers were crowned European champions, with others winning medals and reaching finals.
Amor Paz, CEO of the Israel Climbing Association, stated that this success is the result of a long-term professional process, not a one-off event. She highlighted the depth and quality of the Israeli team, with four semifinalists and two finalists, as evidence of this sustained development. Paz credited the achievement to the collaborative efforts of athletes, coaches, professional staff, and a system that believes in the potential of Israeli climbing, with a future goal of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The women's semifinals and finals were scheduled for later that evening, with Ayala Kerem competing in the semifinals. Younger climbers Alma Sapir Halevi and Tamar Cohen also participated, representing the future of Israeli climbing.
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