Janja Garnbret: Slovenian star wins Olympic gold in women's boulder and lead as GB's Erin McNeice narrowly misses out

Erin McNeice couldn't quite get on the podium in the women's boulder and lead at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Solid showings in both the boulder and lead on Saturday saw her finish with a total of 127.5 points, which was ultimately not enough to survive her fellow climbers' spectacular efforts, with Janja Garnbret winning back-to-back Olympic golds.

Watch as Roberts' golden display brings fans to their feet - 'There are screams in the crowd!'

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Erin McNeice finished outside the medal place in fifth in the women's boulder and lead on Saturday, as Jarnja Garnbret took gold once again.

The Team GB climber gave a good account of herself across both disciplines at the Le Bourget Climbing Centre with a backdrop of Union Jacks, cheers and the gaze of compatriot and gold medallist Toby Roberts.

After a solid showing in the boulder event with 59.5, she scored 68.1 in the lead to ultimately take fifth place.

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American climber Brooke Raboutou took silver with a combined score of 156, behind Garnbret's 168.5.

McNeice made her way up the lead wall swiftly, but as she made it past the early section of the wall and onto the steeper angle, the smoothness and composure she had excelled with disappeared for a moment.

With remarkable calmness and control, she regained her composure and climbed to the 60-point mark to finish strongly.

It was lead-specialist Jessica Pilz's ascent as the penultimate climber that eventually knocked McNeice out of the top three and medal contention.

The Austrian notched up 88.1 points with an incredible climb in the lead section to take a bronze medal, matching the feat of her compatriot Jakob Schubert from yesterday.

Raboutou's climb to the 60-point mark was enough to secure a silver medal, the American realising she was guaranteed a medal when she hit the mats, sheer joy etched on her face before Garnbret ascended past every competitor to claim gold.

Raboutou, a close friend and training partner with Garnbret, ran to the Slovenian and embraced her tightly in an emotional scene as tears flowed from both.

Garnbret had to recover from a broken toe to make the Olympics, and it looked like she had picked up another injury after a big fall in the boulder section on the final bloc.

Watch GB's Roberts realise he has won gold - 'I don't think anyone can believe it!'

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But the Slovenian, overwhelmingly considered the best female competition climber of all time, overcame all obstacles to take her second Olympic gold after winning at Tokyo 2020.

"I don't even know how to describe with words how I feel right now. On one hand it's relief because I defended my title. I'm the champion again," Garnbret said after winning gold.

"On the other hand, I'm so, so satisfied with my climbing today. There was a little bit of interruption on the fourth boulder – my finger got stuck. So I was very scared that something was seriously wrong but all that adrenaline kept me going, and I was climbing totally relaxed so I could do my best. I'm really happy.

"It was very difficult, I was crying for quite some time. But then I just stopped crying and I was like, 'Jarnja just focus. Just go out, do your best. The next Olympics are in four years so I don't care if I'm missing a finger, a hand, a leg, whatever. I will climb'. So that's what I did."

Watch as GB's McArthur provokes huge crowd roar with daring move in climbing final

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