Olympics Photo of the Day: A Steep Climb
British sport climber Molly Thompson-Smith hangs on by her fingertips.
Olympic sport climbing is divided into two medal events, speed and combined boulder and lead. In the lead format, athletes have six minutes to climb as high as they can, scaling a wall more than 15 meters high, without having seen the route beforehand. The steepest sections of the climb have a 42-degree reverse incline. Here, Great Britain’s Molly Thompson-Smith is seen in silhouette, hanging from one hand while competing in the women’s sport-climbing lead semifinal.
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About the Author
Alan Taylor is a senior editor at The Atlantic.