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TEAM GB's latest gold medal hero is 19-year-old climbing star Toby Roberts

TEAM GB's latest gold medal hero is 19-year-old climbing star Toby Roberts
Published 2 months ago on Aug 09, 2024

Meet Team GB's New Climbing Sensation: Toby Roberts Wins Gold at Paris 2024.

TEAM GB’s latest Olympic hero, 19-year-old Toby Roberts, has captured the gold medal in climbing at the Paris 2024 Games, marking a stunning triumph for the Surrey native. The young climber, who was initially third after the bouldering segment of the final, clinched the gold with a remarkable performance in the lead climbing stage, overtaking the heavy favorite who faltered just seconds from victory.

In an emotional interview with BBC Sport, Roberts reflected on his historic win: "I am just lost for words. To find out that I had got the gold in that moment was truly incredible. I’ve been training for this moment my whole life. To say it hasn't sunk in is an understatement. I imagine later it will be a flood of emotions. It is a goal I have been training towards for like 10 years."

Roberts’ journey to Olympic gold has been marked by dedication and resilience. During the COVID-19 lockdown, he faced a significant challenge when competitions were suspended. His father, Tristian Roberts, stepped up by constructing a custom climbing wall in their garden, a gesture that proved crucial in maintaining Toby’s training regimen. The wall, measuring 3.6 square meters with adjustable angles, became a cornerstone of his conditioning and strength building.

Tristian, who is also Toby’s coach, admitted to the Radio Times that his knowledge of climbing initially came from watching television. “During lockdown, Toby had to take a year out from competitions, so we built a climbing wall in our garden. It’s useful as a base level of conditioning, strength, and power and helped him to build up his physicality.”

From an early age, Toby displayed an innate talent for climbing. His parents, Tristian and Marina, were often astonished to find their infant son scaling his cot and later stair gates. By the age of four, Toby had already impressed at a climbing activity center, becoming the youngest climber to reach the top of a wall.

At eight years old, Toby joined an after-school climbing club and quickly became hooked. His impressive achievements included becoming the youngest Brit to climb the 8a Raindogs route at Malham Cove at just ten years old. Tristian described his son as obsessively determined, noting how Toby’s commitment extended to his daily routines.

The announcement that climbing would debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics inspired Roberts to set his sights on Paris 2024. His rapid rise in the climbing world continued after the lockdown, including a stint in Austria for advanced training facilities. Roberts’ breakthrough came in 2022 with a third-place finish at the Lead World Cup in Edinburgh.

He further solidified his reputation in 2023 with a dramatic gold medal win at the Boulder World Cup in Italy, clinching victory with his final attempt. A few weeks later, he secured another gold at the Lead World Cup in France. Roberts revealed that listening to Eminem's "Lose Yourself" before competitions helps him psych up, a ritual that underscores his focus and determination.

Roberts' Olympic victory in Paris 2024 represents the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. In his post-competition comments, he expressed his disbelief and excitement: "Well, I imagine I won’t be sleeping. I’ll get very, very drunk. I’m in shock. To find out you’ve won an Olympic gold is just, it’s definitely going to be a lot of shock there."

He continued, “I’ve been working towards this for ten years. Me and my dad, we created a plan to get to the stage and it’s been a journey.”

Toby Roberts’ journey from a young climber scaling household furniture to Olympic champion is a testament to his extraordinary talent and the unwavering support of his family. His victory at Paris 2024 not only brings him individual glory but also highlights the incredible achievements of British climbing on the global stage.

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