Teenager Toby Roberts Secures Historic Climbing Gold for Team GB in Paris

Toby Roberts has delivered a landmark performance for Great Britain, winning the country’s 14th gold medal of the Paris Olympics and securing its first-ever Olympic medal in sport climbing. The 19-year-old’s victory in the boulder and lead climbing event was marked by dramatic moments and a thrilling finish.

Roberts, who had been an underdog in the competition, saw his fortunes change dramatically when Japanese climber Sorato Anraku, the world silver medallist and pre-event favorite, faltered on his final ascent. Anraku’s slip on the 15-meter lead wall allowed Roberts to clinch the gold, leaving him momentarily in disbelief and with his head in his hands. The crowd of 6,000 gasped at the unexpected turn of events.

“I am just lost for words,” Roberts told the BBC. “To find out that I had got the gold in that moment was truly incredible.”

Roberts, who honed his skills on a DIY climbing wall in his parents’ garden, had previously finished third in the bouldering portion of the competition, which involved scaling four different boulders. His performance in this segment earned him 92.1 points out of 100, placing him in provisional first position with only Anraku left to compete. Anraku needed at least 86 points on the lead wall to surpass Roberts, but his loss of grip led to an unexpected end to his campaign.

Roberts’ win represents a significant milestone for Great Britain, making climbing the 44th sport in which the country has earned an Olympic medal across both summer and winter Games. Climbing made its Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020, and Roberts’ gold medal underscores the sport’s growing prominence.

From his early days, Roberts showed a passion for climbing. He first visited an indoor climbing center at age eight and was just 12 when climbing was confirmed for the Tokyo Games. This announcement inspired him and his father, Tristian, to chart a path towards the Olympics. “I have been training for this moment my whole life,” Roberts said. “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.”

During the Covid-19 lockdowns, Roberts intensified his training, using his garden setup and later accessing advanced facilities in Austria thanks to his father’s efforts. His dedication bore fruit as he won his first World Cup medal in 2022 and followed up with golds in both boulder and lead events in subsequent competitions. In Paris, the combined format of the Olympics saw him achieve the third-best scores in each event, securing overall gold.

Roberts’ success has earned him the nickname “Toby ‘The Terminator’ Roberts,” a nod to the iconic 1980s film character. While he acknowledges the nickname, Roberts prefers to simply be known as Toby. “It’s not a self-given nickname,” he said. “I’m not sure how I feel about it. I don’t think I could really give myself a nickname. I think I’d just call myself Toby.”

His father and coach, Tristian Roberts, reflects on their journey without ever focusing on medals but rather on the steps to reach them. “Everyone can have a good plan, but to implement it like he has and show up every day to make it happen, that is what he has done,” he noted.

Toby Roberts’ victory in Paris not only marks a personal achievement but also highlights the evolving landscape of Olympic sports and Great Britain’s growing success on the international stage.