Flohé and Megos ready for the Olympics

Yannick Flohé and Alex Megos are two strong contenders for the Olympics that are also among the best outdoors. Yannick (24) with three 8C+’ and a 9a+ under his belt, won the Combined World Championship in 2021. The next year, he was Top-7 in all the ten World Cups he participated in.

Megos (30) track record outdoors, with around 20 ascents 9b/8C and beyond, can only be matched by Adam Ondra. On the competition scene he has three times made the podium in the Lead World Championships and he was #2 in Innsbruck in 2024. His best bouldering result is a silver in the European Championship in 2017. (c) Samm Pratt

How is the Olympic preparation going on?
Flohé: I’m back home and just take it easy before the Olympics. I’ve spent some time in Innsbruck and worked a lot on my lead climbing. I focused mainly on endurance training and did some bouldering comp simulations as well. I think lead climbing will be way more important in Paris due to the lack of separation in points in most of the bouldering rounds. Can’t wait to compete in Paris and I’m already looking forward to my trip to Ceüse afterwards :)

Megos: Preparations are going good and I don't feel my finger anymore, which is great! Very much looking forward to experiencing Paris with Yannick and Lucia [Doerffel] 😍

Can you tell us more about your finger injury?
I ruptured my pulley on my middle finger 2 weeks before the OQS in Shanghai. I was kinda stressed because of it and feared it might be the end of my qualification process. Thankfully it went OK in Shanghai despite the pain and it healed faster than everyone expected, so I was back in the game for Budapest and qualified.

Who have you been training together with?
Flohé: Mainly with the national team. I’ve been to Innsbruck three times just with Alex [Megos] or with the team before the first OQS between the two OQS and last week.

How is your level compared with Megos/Flohe in Lead/Boulder?
Flohé: Depends on the route. If it’s more about bouldery style I can keep up with him but on pure endurance no chance 😅

Megos: I think I can only keep up with Yannick in bouldering on the slabs and the weird boulders. On dynos and powerful stuff he is almost unbeatable.

What is your Olympic goal?
Flohé: For sure making the final. Not climbing every round is always a bit disappointing.

Megos: The goal is to try really hard and hopefully make finals. That would be amazing.