It’s quite fitting that Natalia Grossman is training at legendary climber Chris Sharma’s gym. Grossman started her climbing journey at Santa Cruz, California’s famed Pacific Edge —where Sharma began his own love affair with the sport. 

She took gold at the Pan American Games Santiago 2023 as well as two Boulder World Cup gold medals, the overall Boulder World Cup season, and the Boulder World Championship under her harness. 

"It’s been a new and exciting experience to have all the athletes (Boulder & Lead and Speed) training together at the same time," said Grossman. "Everyone at Sharma Climbing has also been very welcoming and accommodating and I’m grateful for their support!"

Among the other climbers vying for Olympic glory is Zach Hammer who punched in his ticket to Paris in a late-season surge in two qualifying tournaments. Hammer has been climbing since he was 3 and competing since age 9. Hammer's 5.15-second climb at the US trials was a personal best and makes him the third-fastest American on the team.

Brooke Raboutou returns for her second Olympic Games, one that is perhaps closer to her heart with her father being from France. She was the first woman to represent the US in sport climbing when the sport made its debut in Tokyo 2020. She will compete in the combined boulder and lead categories.

Two-time Olympian Colin Duffy also made his debut in Tokyo, where he was the youngest member of the climbing team. He comes to the Games armed with the 2023 World Championships silver this time. 

Duffy, Raboutou, Hammer, Grossman plus the rest of the team —Jesse Grupper, Emma Hunt, Piper Kelly and Sam Watson — will all continue their training in Paris later this week.

Sport Climbing returns to the Olympics with twice as many medal events, including Boulder & Lead (Combined) and Speed. The competition begins on 5 August at 10:00 CEST with the men’s boulder & lead.