IFSC has stated that due to the coronavirus, the Asian Combined Championship in Wujiang - China 18/5, might be postponed or rescheduled. If it is postponed, they will use the World Champion as the qualifying event. This means that Jongwon Chon and Chaehyun Seo, both from Korea, will get a ticket to Tokyo.

Colin Duffy from USA, who never has done a senior IFSC comp, won the Pan-Am Continental Championship in Los Angeles securing him a ticket to the Olympics. The two times Youth World Champion and 155 cm tall was fifth in Speed, second in Bouldering and won the Lead = 10 points. Zach Galla, also from USA was second with 16 points. In the end, what separated them was one try to bonus. All Top-4 (from USA) in bouldering topped all three boulders. If Duffy would have needed four tries instead of three to get the bonuses, he would have ended with a total score of 20. In the same way, if Galla would have made the bonuses in three tries instead of four he would have med it to Tokyo. From the video at 2.19, we can also see that Galla unfortunately just slipped in the very start on the final boulder. Furthermore, if Sean Bailey would have not slipped and made the three tops in three tries instead of four, and Duffy need one more try to the zones, he would have been the lucky guy. Complete results. Another twist from the results is that Duffy made it to Tokyo as he was quicker than Bailey to top out the Lead route!

As USA has filled their country quota, Drew Ruana lost his possibility to get the Tripartite ticket based from him being #13 in the World Championship. The Tripartite was supposed to go to the best athlete from a micro Olympic country but as no such competed in the Combined in Hachioji, it will go to the best in Hachioji respecting the country quota. Michael Piccolruaz from Italy was #15 in Hachioji and he will go to Tokyo unless and Italian will qualify and fill their country quota in the European Championship. If the Italians will fill their country quota, then Jernej Kruder is next in line to get the Tripartite ticket.

Chris Frick, who did his first 8b+, out of 12, in 1992, has done one more, Los Humildes pa Casa in Oliana. With 8c, always nearby where he lives in Basel, as his personal best and that he could not climb for a year in 2017, his story is really inspiring. (c) Toni Mas Buchaca "In 2017 I lost the nervus thoracicus in the right shoulder meaning I couldn‘t lift my right arm for about a year. It was questionable if I could climb again. But my love for climbing was stronger and I slowly worked my way back to climbing at my personal limit. A tough task for sure. But intuitively I realized that it could not be over... not yet! With my experience I can tell some good news: climbing at an age of 50+ and at the same personal limit you may have in your hay-days some decades ago is still possible. Never say you’re too old or weak. Live sustainably and eat healthily, enjoy life, meet people who spend positive energies and avoid the energy-vampires who tell you at your age everything is over! Climbing has so much to offer and exploring what’s possible at the world's best crags together with great friends is so rewarding. Getting fat and watching TV? No way! Training is following an intuitive program founded on my experience. Mostly change from bouldering to lead in the gym. A lot of core exercises and finger strength with extra weight. But always listen to myself how much load I can stand that training day. Every six weeks is a resting week. Good nutrition. I‘m vegan."

Allanah Yip won the Pan-Am Continential Championship in Los Angeles meaning she will be going to Tokyo. The Canadian was #5 in Speed, #1 in Boulder and #3 in Lead = 15 points. Runner-up with 36 points was Alejandra Contreras sharing the same score as #3 Lauen Bair. Interesting is that she just barely made it to the Top-8 final as she was #7 in the qualification, commenting on Insta, After two rounds of competition where I struggled to keep it together mentally and physically, I am so grateful to have the opportunity to fight for the last Olympic spot..." Allanah's victory was rather expected as she was #18 in the World Championship and #13 in the Toulouse qualifying event. Video and complete results.

Stefan Scarperi, #16 in the Euro Championship last year, has done his first 8B flash, Wrestling with an alligator 8B in Malatal. A few days earlier he also did Bügeleisen 8B+ in just one hour and now he is wotking the sit. "The grade of the sit is 8C and I think if I will get it the next time I can climb on it." During the last five days he has also done seven more boulders 8A to 8B including one flash.

"Together we face the longest multi-pitch climb in history: 700.000 pitches and 9,5 million meters from Olympia to Tokyo. To ensure a timely arrival to the venue for climbing's Olympic debut, all routes and boulders climbed and ticked in the Vertical-Life app through 24.07.2020 will count. Some of the world's best brands are supporting this expedition, and great prizes will be given out at every milestone!" More info.

Nico Januel reports on Insta, including a video, that he has done the third ascent of La Force in le Toit d’Orsay calling i 8C. FA Alban Levier graded it 9a sport or 8c+ traverse and Nico comments. "The traverse grade is a specific Fontainebleau grade I never understood. Who decided a boulder problem had to be 1 or 30 movements? You definitely had to put different ability in, but it’s still bouldering!! (I really think we have to stop with the traverse grade."

jose luis palao has done his first 9a+, La catedral delos narcos in Santuario. (c) Andrés Giménez During the same day he also did La catedral en hipoxia ext 9a which has a shorter and different exit. "The cathedral of los narcos is a great crossing that goes through sections of 3 different routes and is the combination of all of them."