Extreme progress in 2017 and the female is catching up

2017 has been the greatest year in the history of climbing both measured in breaking new barriers but also on the general level of the best climbers. The record year started with Margo Hayes (19) doing the first female 9a+ by La Rambla in February. In September Adam Ondra did the FA of Silence 9c and now Angy Eiter has done the first female 9b. Until five years ago, there were only some ten guys each year doing a 9a+ and a handful female were doing 8c+ (using modern grading). In 2017, we will possibly see three times as many male 9a+' and female 8c+'. In regards bouldering, it is the same trend showing a record for male 8C+' as well as female 8A+'. Including Ashima Shiraishi's 8C boulder in 2016 when she was 14 years old and a 9a route when she was 13, we can see that the female is catching up. In regards competitions, rumor says that Janja Garnbret tried the male final route in Wujiang and climbing equally high as #3 male.