LOCAL NEWS

USA Climbing Camp for Paris 2024 begins in Salt Lake City

Jan 28, 2023, 5:22 PM | Updated: Feb 12, 2023, 5:17 pm

SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah — As the Summer 2024 Olympic Games draws closer, those athletes looking to participate begin their training.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” someone yelled as athletes began their race up the climbing wall at the Momentum Indoor Climbing gym in Millcreek.

It’s only 50 feet up, but in speed climbing, it’s all about who gets up there the fastest.

“It is extremely exciting,” expressed Merritt Ernsberger. “I can’t even imagine walking onto that stage and what that would be like.”

Ernsberger is one of the top speed climbers in the U.S. and is hoping he can get fast enough to make the Paris 2024 U.S. Olympic Team. It’s why he was a part of the National Team Training Camp in Salt Lake City, which was held this week.

Speed climbing is now its own discipline in the Olympics, instead of being mixed with boulder and lead climbing like it was during the sport’s debut during the Tokyo 2020 Games.

It means the need for fast climbers is as vital as ever.

“It puts a whole new focus on speed,” explained John Muse, Vice President of Sport for USA Climbing. “It’s a whole other team that we’re now having to support, having to find resources for, get coaches for, and find opportunities for them to train. It gives us an opportunity to collect a couple more medals from the Olympic Games.”

Olympic hopefuls training at the camp. (KSL-TV's Alex Cabrero) Olympic hopefuls training at the camp. (KSL-TV's Alex Cabrero) Olympic hopefuls training at the camp. (KSL-TV's Alex Cabrero) Olympic hopefuls training at the camp. (KSL-TV's Alex Cabrero) Olympic hopefuls training at the camp. (KSL-TV's Alex Cabrero)

USA Climbing did well in the recent Tokyo Games. Three of the team’s four athletes reached the finals, with Salt Lake City’s very own Nathaniel Coleman winning a Silver Medal.

To prepare for the Paris Olympics, USA Climbing hired Oleksii Shulha to help train climbers.

“We are working on the very subtle precise accuracy and everything involved,” Shulha said.

Shulha was a speed climber and knows the little differences that could shave a little time off of competition climbs. The best male climbers finish the 15-meter climb in the 5-second range and female climbers in the 6-second range.

Shulha is also from Ukraine and said the sport is growing in his home country.

“Even schools, the regular public schools, have gyms. Climbing gyms. So, kids can do physical education classes, not just soccer or track, or volleyball. They can do climbing too,” he said.

Oleksii Shulha at the training camp. (KSL-TV’s Alex Cabrero)

Shulha still has a lot of his family members in Ukraine. He was able to convince his sister to move to the U.S. just as the way was starting.

“It was shocking when we first saw the news. Very terrible,” he said.

Other family members and friends decided to stay in Ukraine.

“A lot of Ukrainians don’t want to leave. They’re Ukrainians. They’re patriots. They want to fight for that independence,” Shulha said.

That drive to work as hard as possible to get what you want is passed on to the climbers he helps train. It’s an intensity that is needed to be an Olympian.

“It would be incredible,” said Ernsberger. “This is my dream.”

KSL 5 TV Live

Local News

Tim Ballard...

Lindsay Aerts

Wife of Tim Ballard responds to questions of husband’s church standing

SALT LAKE CITY — The wife of Tim Ballard issued a statement Monday afternoon saying she and her husband are cooperating with their local religious leaders. Katherine Ballard, Tim Ballard’s wife, said they are “in touch” with their ecclesiastical leaders. Tim Ballard asserted two weeks ago he was a faithful member in good standing with […]

11 minutes ago

Alta snow...

Shara Park

Monday’s storm brings inches of snow to resorts, rain to valley

From heavy rain in the valley to snow in the mountains, it has been a wild day for Utah weather.

48 minutes ago

Grantsville High School in Grantsville, Utah. (Google Earth Pro)...

Larry D. Curtis

Grantsville High school: ‘Please know everyone is safe’

A heavy police presence at Grantsville High School was an indication of a threat but the school posted on its Facebook page that "everyone is safe."

2 hours ago

white plane in pieces on dry brown terrain...

Larry D. Curtis

Family killed in Utah plane crash landed to refuel near Moab

The North Dakota family that was killed in an Utah plane crash Sunday, flew into Canylonlands Field Airport, near Moab, refueled and left again before the family of four was killed.

2 hours ago

A welcome message to patients from the Receiving Center. (Huntsman Mental Health Institute)...

Brianna Chavez and Mary Culbertson

Mental health receiving center revamped, now open in Salt Lake City

The Huntsman Mental Health Institute's Receiving Center opened again to the public after being revamped with new services and more space. While located on the University of Utah campus, the center opens it's doors to anyone that needs it, 24/7.

5 hours ago

A woman was killed in a single-vehicle crash on I-70 near Green River in Emery county on Sunday. (U...

Bridger Beal-Cvetko, KSL.com

2 killed, several injured in pair of weekend crashes

Two people were killed in weekend crashes in Emery and Duchesne counties, troopers said.

6 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

Design mockup half in white and half in color of luxury house interior with open plan living room a...

Lighting Design

Lighting Design 101: Learn the Basics

These lighting design basics will help you when designing your home, so you can meet both practical and aesthetic needs.

an antler with large horns int he wilderness...

Three Bear Lodge

Yellowstone in the Fall: A Wildlife Spectacle Worth Witnessing

While most people travel to this park in the summer, late fall in Yellowstone provides a wealth of highlights to make a memorable experience.

a diverse group of students raising their hands in a classroom...

Little Orchard Preschool

6 Benefits of Preschool for Kids

Some of the benefits of preschool for kids include developing independence, curiosity, and learning more about the world.

rodeo contestant on a saddle bronc...

DAYS OF '47 RODEO

Get Ready for the Days of ‘47 Rodeo!

The Days of '47 Rodeo is a series of events everyone in the family can enjoy, with world-class rodeo contestants vying for the gold medal.

Electric LED Lightbulb Change In Light At Home...

Lighting Design

How to Know When to Upgrade Your Lighting

This guide explores indicators that suggest it’s time for a lighting upgrade with tips to make an informed decision when you’re ready to buy. 

Brunette guy in headphones playing games on his desktop computer...

PC Laptops

Looking For a New Computer? Use This Desktop Buying Guide

Choosing a new desktop computer can come with a lot of questions, so we created this desktop buying guide.

USA Climbing Camp for Paris 2024 begins in Salt Lake City