Yonatan Katz Wins Salt Lake City Bouldering Final With a Decisive Top

Yonatan Katz’s gold medal in Salt Lake City came down to a single boulder that none of the other men in the final could top. On his fourth attempt, Katz passed the scoring zone and reached the finish, turning a difficult final problem into the decisive moment of the World Climbing Series event. It was his second start in the senior international series.

The result shows how a bouldering final can hinge on one sequence of movements. A climber may have strength and experience, yet still need to work out how to position the body, generate momentum and control each hold on a route they may not have climbed before. Katz’s performance was a clear example of problem solving under pressure, though one event by itself can’t tell us how an athlete will perform across a full season.

One top changed the men’s final

Before Katz’s fourth attempt, the other finalists who had tried the last boulder had not reached its scoring zone, a designated hold partway up the route. Katz made it past that point and finished the climb. He scored 69.7 points. Britain’s Maximillian Milne, who had been ahead of him before the final problem, placed second with 59.7. Japan’s Rei Kawamata finished third with 54.2.

That outcome rested on a small number of attempts on one route. In bouldering, reaching a marked zone and completing the climb can both contribute to a score. A successful top can therefore create a meaningful gap when other athletes have not reached the same point. The figures from Salt Lake City describe the final standings; they don’t, on their own, explain every difference in attempt count or route strategy.

The event took place in Salt Lake City from October 16 to 18. The men’s final was part of a larger competition weekend, but the last boulder became its defining test. Katz had to find a workable sequence where the other finalists had not. That is a specific achievement, rather than proof that he will solve every difficult route or dominate future events.

Bertone won the women’s final; McNeice took the season title

France’s Oriane Bertone won the women’s final the following day with 84.6 points. She was the only finalist to complete the first boulder. Britain’s Erin McNeice scored 69.7 for second place, just 0.1 ahead of Japan’s Mao Nakamura, who scored 69.6.

McNeice’s second-place finish in Salt Lake City came alongside a larger season result: she won the overall Boulder title. She began the series in 11th place, then recorded one gold and four silver finishes. The final and the season standings reflect different things. Bertone delivered the strongest result in that day’s final, while McNeice’s series of finishes earned her the season title.

There was a different kind of contrast in the men’s competition. Japan’s Sorato Anraku had already secured the overall championship after winning five of the six bouldering events. In Salt Lake City, he did not advance from qualification. His season record shows sustained success across the earlier events; his early exit shows that this particular competition brought a different challenge. Neither result cancels out the other.

What bouldering tests

Bouldering takes place on relatively short walls, with thick mats below instead of ropes. Climbers work through a set sequence of holds and movements, aiming to reach designated points and control the finish. The challenge can involve pulling, but it also asks athletes to use their feet, shift their hips, balance their weight and decide when to move quickly. A route that appears to demand raw strength may be solved more efficiently through precise positioning and timing.

Each boulder is a problem with its own demands. One may reward a careful sequence; another may require a fast, coordinated movement. Competitors have to make decisions while their grip and arm strength are under strain, and they have limited attempts to find a solution. A strong result on one problem can be decisive, but it does not reduce the sport to a single measure of fitness.

For people considering climbing, the general lesson is that skill and gradual practice matter alongside strength. A first session can introduce basic movement and safe use of the wall without beginning on a difficult route. That matters because climbing places force on the fingers, hands, shoulders and ankles. A 2026 review of 45 climbing-injury studies reported frequent problems in those areas. The review concerns injuries across climbing research; it does not establish that every beginner will be injured or predict an individual’s risk.

What to take from the results

Katz’s win is best understood as a strong performance on a demanding final problem. He reached the top when his closest rivals could not, and the points reflect that difference. Bertone’s victory came from a different standout moment: completing the first women’s boulder when no other finalist did. McNeice’s season title, meanwhile, followed a run of high finishes rather than a win in Salt Lake City.

These results also show why a single event can’t capture an entire season. An athlete who performs exceptionally across several stops may still struggle with one set of routes, while a competitor can make a decisive breakthrough on a specific problem. The most useful thing to watch next is whether Katz can build on this performance across future events, and whether McNeice can carry her consistent season form into the next set of competitions.