TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 2016 SPORTS Looking up: Climbing sets sights on 2020 Olympics MADISON: Climbing is on the precipice of late-night television . States. One young climbing star, 16-year- climbing wall. The physical demands can petition would only take place on man- of becoming an Olympic sport, raising There were roughly 35 million old Kai Lightner , got his start indoors be extreme, but Canavan is attracted by made structures, though it hasn’t been the profile of a recreational activity that climbers worldwide in 2015, according after visiting a gym in Fayetteville, North the mental side of climbing. Finding the determined if walls would be construct- is seeing a surge in young participants. to the International Federation of Sport Carolina, a decade ago. right route and piecing it together with ed indoors or outdoors. Participants The ascent to potential Olympic Climbing, up 40 percent from two years the right movements is like solving a would take part in the disciplines of inclusion got a boost on June 1 after the earlier. As of last fall, about half of the TECHNIQUES CAN BE PERFECTED puzzle. “So you can be the strongest per- speed, bouldering and lead (also known International Olympic Committee execu- total was younger than 25 “thanks to the “Kids like me have access to these son ever and not be able to climb as as sport), with results combined into one tive board gave its approval to include latest trend of urban/action sports,” the resources that did not exist decades (well) as someone who isn’t strong,” overall ranking system to determine climbing along with four other sports: federation said in a report. ago,” Lightner said. “When you are able Canavan said. medalists. Waggoner said he likes the baseball-softball, surfing, karate and USA Climbing had almost 3,800 regis- to start training at high levels, as young She was among 134 participants at strides American climbers have made on skateboarding. The IOC will decide in tered members age 19 and under as of as 6, 7 years old, it shouldn’t be surpris- USA Climbing’s Bouldering Open the youth level in international competi- August whether to add the sports to the the 2015-16 season, an increase of near- ing that kids are becoming more skilled National Championships in Madison this tion. If the Olympics were held now, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. ly 90 percent in nine years - a boom that at younger ages.” year, an increase of 47 percent from United States would be competing with Japanese organizers initially pro- could position the United States to Indoor climbing removes barriers 2010. The youth nationals in Madison a top contenders including France, posed the new sports in September and emerge as a top Olympic contender. inherent outdoors, like weather, travel month later drew 499 competitors, up Austria, Germany and Japan. looked at climbing as a competition that The United States “is already a very and expensive equipment, said Ian 37 percent from last year and almost 55 Waggoner stopped short of predict- could appeal to teens and young adult, active country for climbing and we trust McIntosh, president of Mesa Rim percent from 2010. ing how success now might translate to an age where there is already increasing the national federation will keep on Climbing Center in San Diego. USA Climbing’s goal over the last 10 performance in four years, even with top interest. “My dream is to ... keep on help- developing its expertise and keep on Techniques can be perfected year- years has been to focus on developing young climbers like Shiraishi and ing getting (climbing) bigger and bigger bringing kids to our competitions, which round indoors. It’s an option to fill time its youth program. While Olympics inclu- Lightner presumably in the mix. so hopefully I can compete in the would be definitely a plus for a possible between soccer seasons for the average, sion has never influenced the organiza- One wrinkle is that climbers usually Olympics and win it maybe,” said 15- medal in 2020,” said Anne Fuynel, on-the-go pre-teen in the suburbs. tion’s decisions, CEO Kynan Waggoner specialize in one or two disciplines. For year-old Ashima Shiraishi, a New Yorker spokeswoman for the international fed- Lily Canavan of Boston is one of the said, the potential addition to the the Olympics, they would need to take whose parents were Japanese immi- eration in Turin, Italy. Many young top competitors at her age bracket. Now Summer Games “can’t do anything part in three. “I don’t know who we’ll grants. Her spider-like ascents up rock climbers are getting a foothold indoors 18, she got into the sport about eight except promote the sport and raise the have ready to go in 2020,” Waggoner walls and cliffs have made her a viral at climbing gyms, which have grown in years ago while attending a birthday profile level, period.” said. “I do know some of our best U.S. sensation online and drawn the curiosity number to nearly 400 across the United party at a gymnastics facility that had a In the 2020 Olympics proposal, com- athletes ... are starting to train.” — AP Aussie chief defends 16-page Kyrgios letter SYDNEY: Australia’s team boss for the Rio a US$25,000 fine. Chiller said similar letters were Olympics has defended the decision to send sent to shooter Michael Diamond, who is facing controversial tennis star Nick Kyrgios a 16-page drink-driving and firearms charges, and field letter asking him to explain his behaviour if he hockey player Anna Flanagan, who is at the cen- wanted to be picked for the Games. tre of an alleged drink-driving cover up. Kyrgios, Australia’s highest-ranked male ten- nis player at 19 in the world, responded to the ‘IT’S HIS DECISION’ letter by declaring himself unavailable for selec- “(They) received exactly the same letter that tion, saying he had been subjected to “unwar- Nick Kyrgios did,” Chiller said. “Admittedly, Nick’s ranted attacks” from the Australian Olympic letter was 16 pages long. Theirs wasn’t quite that Committee (AOC). long.” An outspoken and combative figure on But Australia’s chef de mission for Rio, Kitty and off the court, Kyrgios announced Friday he Chiller, rejected his claims, saying Kyrgios was was pulling out of Olympic contention because never singled out and that she was just follow- the AOC had “chosen to publicly and privately ing the rules governing the behaviour of all disparage me”. He said no one from the AOC had team members. sought a meeting “to discuss their concerns”-a “Someone needs to stand up,” she told claim disputed by Chiller. reporters at the weekend. “Why I’m doing this is, “I was surprised actually because, contrary to TOKYO: Graham Vigrass (L) of Canada spikes the ball over Chen Longhai (R) of China we fought long and hard for the last three years what was in his statement, we had reached out during the men’s volleyball world final qualification for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics to establish a set of behaviours for our team in to him,” she said. “He received a letter on the 2016 in Tokyo on Sunday. — AFP Rio. “I’m doing this for the 428 other athletes that 30th of May asking him to basically please we will have in Rio.” explain, to explain his side of the story. So we Chiller confirmed that the AOC sent Krygios had reached out to get that from him. the 16 pages last week chronicling potentially “He chose to not respond to that and to with- Long jumper Lapierre eyes Rio disreputable conduct and asking him to “please draw. So, ultimately, it’s his decision.” explain”. Volatile 21-year-old Kyrgios has fre- If Kyrgios changes his mind, he has until June SYDNEY: A file photo taken on December 4, medal amid ‘best-ever’ form quently fallen foul of tennis authorities, most 17 to respond and the AOC executive would 2015, shows Kitty Chiller, Australia’s Olympic recently receiving a code violation at the French then “determine whether indeed he had chef de mission for the 2016 Rio Olympics, in MELBOURNE: Australian long jumper jumped in my life consistency-wise. When it Open for shouting at a ball boy, and being fined brought himself, the sport or the Olympic move- Sydney. Australia’s team boss for the Rio Fabrice Lapierre can see himself landing comes to a major championship, I’m always for an audible obscenity during his thrashing at ment into disrepute”. Olympics has defended the decision yester- on the podium at the Rio Olympics after going to lift. “I’ve got two months to get the hands of Richard Gasquet. Tennis Australia, which said in a statement day, to send controversial tennis star Nick another encouraging performance at stronger ... Once I do that, that’s when I’ll He also infamously made crude remarks last last Friday that it was disappointed that Kyrgios Kyrgios a 16-page letter asking him to explain the Diamond League event in jump my jumps — 8.40 and 8.50.” year about the girlfriend of Swiss ace Stan “has been put in this position”, is due to nomi- his behaviour if he wanted to be picked for Birmingham at the weekend. A world sil- Lapierre, runner-up behind Olympic Wawrinka, earning a suspended 28-day ban and nate its players for selection on June 30. —AFP the Games. — AFP ver medalist in Beijing last year, Lapierre champion Greg Rutherford at last year’s posted a jump of 8.21 meters to finish world championships, is hoping to be third behind winner Marquise Goodwin among the Briton’s biggest threats in Rio.