Sport climbing made its appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. For Paris 2024, two disciplines are in the spotlight: speed and combined bouldering and difficulty. Qualified for the bouldering event, young Selma Elhadj-Mimoune is setting the bar high for this exceptional edition of the Games.
The young Selma Elhadj-Mimoune testifies to her ambition for this demanding discipline and her attachment to the Hauts-de-Seine region, where she began training at an early age.
It was because she climbed everywhere that Selma Elhadj-Mimoune's parents decided to enrol her in climbing.
What I like about climbing is that it's a very varied sport with a very wide range of movements. You never take anything for granted. Every wall is different, so you never stop learning. You have to be ready for anything. You have to push yourself all the time.
After shining in junior competitions in recent years, the young Francilienne won the title of U20 World Champion in 2023 in Seoul and has qualified to take part in the bouldering & difficulty event at the 2024 Olympic Games.
© Paris je t'aime
Although the young woman now trains elsewhere and travels the world for competitions, her favourite playground remains the 92. So it's hardly surprising to see her between Asnières-sur-Seine, where she lives, on the coulée verte in Bois-Colombes, which she crosses by bike to warm up on her way to the gym, or at the Blocbuster in Courbevoie. "I'm attached to the 92, because that's where I grew up as a sportswoman and I have a lot of memories there.
All the more reason to fly the colours of her region and her country! "I'm very happy that the Games are being held in Paris this year.
It's going to be an extraordinary event,’ she explains, adding that she ’really hopes it will help develop the sport and inspire more people to climb walls.
The sport climbing events will be held from 5 to 10 August 2024 at the Le Bourget climbing site, north-east of Paris. All eyes are on the French athletes.
