Korea’s leading sport climber Seo Chae-hyun (23, Seoul City Hall·The North Face) finally lifted the burden of an Asian Games gold medal.
Seo shook off the disappointment of the silver medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and reached the top in her main event, lead. Seo also won a bronze in bouldering, achieving the feat of multiple medals.
On the 3rd at the Port Messe Nagoya exhibition hall in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Seo Chae-hyun succeeded in topping by reaching the final hold in the women’s lead final of sport climbing at the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games and won the gold medal.
Her strong rival Mori Ai (Japan) recorded 47+ and took the silver medal, while Seo rose to the top of Asia with an overwhelming climb. The bronze medal went to Zhang Xhetong (China), who recorded 39+.
This gold medal is even more meaningful for Seo. Seo won a silver medal in the sport climbing combined at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Returning to the Asian Games after four years, Seo collected two medals, taking bronze in bouldering and then gold in her main event, lead. She shook off the regrets that remained in Hangzhou and finally stood at the top of Asia.
Seo’s gold medal is also significant for Korean sport climbing. It is the first time in eight years that a Korean athlete has won a gold medal in sport climbing at the Asian Games since Cheon Jong-won won the men’s combined at the 2018 Jakarta·Palembang Games. Seo added her name as a new gold medalist in Korean sport climbing, bringing valuable results to the national team.
Lead is an event in which climbers compete to see how high they can climb a 15m artificial climbing wall within a six-minute time limit. Competitors need not only outstanding endurance but also route-finding ability to analyze the course before the match and allocate their energy efficiently. A top (TOP) is awarded when a climber reaches the final hold and completes the route.
Seo showed the qualities of a strong favorite starting from the semifinals. She recorded a top alongside Japan’s Mori Ai and advanced to the final as a co-leader. Based on her semifinal results, Seo climbed last among the eight finalists and calmly prepared for the climb after checking the earlier competitors’ results.
In the final, Seo attacked the holds one by one with steady movements and outstanding stamina. Even in the most difficult sections she continued climbing without wavering and finally reached the final hold to complete the top. It was the moment she overtook all her rivals and secured the gold medal.
Kim Chae-young (Jeonju Bawio-reum) finished fourth with 38+. Kim lost out on a medal when she held the 38th hold but was overtaken by Zhang Xhetong, who reached the 39th hold.
Seo became a multiple medalist at this competition by winning bronze in bouldering and gold in lead consecutively. It is an especially shining achievement that she recorded a top in her main event, lead, and took the gold medal.
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