Social media lit up and Google searches soared when the men’s qualifying rounds unveiled the explosive attraction of combined sport climbing
For most people watching the debut of sport climbing at the Tokyo Olympics, their knowledge of the sport was probably limited to glimpsing people hanging off ropes when picking the kids up from a birthday party at the local climbing centre.
But if terms such as “dyno” and “scorpion” don’t mean much, most observers would still be able to recognise and marvel at the power, strength and mental toughness needed to compete in one of the Games’ four new sports.