Jessica Pilz achieved a good fifth place in the final of the Bouldering World Cup in Innsbruck. The Lower Austrian, who lives in Tyrol’s capital, came second in the semifinals on Thursday and advanced to the top six, where she achieved her best result in bouldering in Innsbruck to date.
The victory went to the Slovenian favorite and Olympic champion Janja Garnbret, who beat her 17-year-old compatriot Jennifer Buckley. Garnbret was the dominant winner, recording four top points. Franziska Sterrer, the second Austrian to qualify for the semi-finals, finished the competition in 18th place.
Pilz: “It was really cool”
As a lead climbing specialist, Pilz was in the final of the bouldering competition in Innsbruck for the first time. The climbing center was sold out with 3,000 fans. Austria’s Olympic competitor reached the top of the first boulder, and the podium was still within reach. But the specialists prevailed in the end, and Pilz also scored four zone points. “I was happy that I was in the final here. It was still really cool,” said Pilz in an interview with ORF.
The men’s bouldering competitions are scheduled for Friday, and the final is already sold out. Six-time world champion Jakob Schubert missed the semi-finals on Wednesday evening in initially rainy conditions. The lead climbing qualification and semi-finals follow on Saturday, and the podium places are up for grabs on Sunday. Pilz wants to have a say again. “I’m really excited and hope that I can perform to my full potential and climb in the final,” she said.
