Australia’s Campbell Harrison showcased his exceptional climbing talent in the semi-finals of the Men’s Boulder & Lead competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
With a combined score of 23.4, Campbell left a significant mark on the Games and Australia’s sport climbing community.
In the lead event, climbers attempt to ascend as high as possible on a 15m wall within six minutes. The wall is divided into four scoring sections, with points assigned to each hold in descending order from the top.
Acting as the second stage of semi-finals, the lead event saw Campbell pushing his limits. Ascending the wall, he scored 14.0 points, a testament to his endurance and mental strength, as he navigated the increasingly complex route with strategic precision to place 19th overall.
With only the top eight progressing to finals, Campbell’s debut appearance in the green and gold comes to an end.
Only the third Australian to compete in Sport Climbing at the Olympic level, Campbell reflected on his journey to Paris and the inclusion of sport on the programme.
“I started climbing when I was nine years old. I never really thought it would be an Olympic sport,” he said.
“From very early on, as soon as I started competing, I fell in love with it and I knew what I wanted to do.
"It was in 2012 when they announced that the world championships would be here in Paris. I had already made it my goal from a young age. So, coming back to Paris for my first Olympics is quite special.”
The Victorian’s performance in the Boulder segment was marked by intense focus and determination, securing a score of 9.4 points.
At the conclusion of his Paris campaign, Campbell reflected on the experience.
“It's not the performance I wanted, but there's a lot of pride too,” he said.
“I feel really good, but I also had a lot more to give. There's so long between the Games, and you just want to do it all again. It's an incredible experience.”
With a combined score of 23.4 points, coupled with back-to-back lead semi-final appearances in 2023, Campbell has well and truly announced himself on the global stage as one to watch.
In the Women's competition, Oceania Mackenzie will be back on the wall for stage two of her semi-final on 8 August from 6pm AEST.
Sarah Dyce
