The 24 semifinalists not only had to overcome four demanding boulder problems on Thursday but also temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius in the Tyrolean capital. The packed outdoor arena at the Innsbruck Climbing Centre added even more heat to the atmosphere, with passionate fans creating an electric environment.
Competing in her first World Cup semifinal just two weeks after her World Cup debut in Prague (43rd place) and only four days after winning the U19 European title, local favourite Jakoba Rauter embraced the occasion. “I was definitely nervous before the competition. Suddenly you're warming up next to all the athletes you've looked up to for years. That was a really special moment,” said Rauter, who refused to let the occasion distract her.
She reached the zone on the opening two boulders, was unable to solve the third, and then, backed by the loud home crowd, secured another zone on the final problem. Her total of 29.2 points earned the KVÖ youngster an impressive 18th place.
“I’m happy with the result, even though as an athlete you always dream of more. It was only my second World Cup and my first semifinal, so I’m taking away all the positives and I know there’s still so much potential in me,” Rauter reflected. “I’ve been watching World Cups on livestreams since I was ten years old and always dreamed of competing on this stage myself. To now see that I can hold my own at this level gives me so much energy and motivation for the years ahead.”
The first person to congratulate her was her sister Magdalena, a pole vaulter at Texas A&M University who is currently back home visiting. “She’s by far my best friend. Since she moved to the United States, we obviously miss each other a lot, but at the same time I’m incredibly proud that she’s chasing her own dream. She’s probably my biggest supporter. No matter how much she has going on herself, she follows every competition and always makes me feel that she truly believes in me. That means the world to me.”
Rauter is determined to build on the experience of competing at her first home World Cup. “I’m only 17 years old and I feel like there’s still so much ahead of me. That’s exactly what makes this sport so exciting for me. Every competition makes me even more motivated to improve.”
Top favourite Annie Sanders (USA) claimed victory in the semifinal, becoming the only athlete to complete three tops. The women’s Boulder final will take place on Thursday from 19:30 and will be broadcast live on ORF Sport+.
