Bassa Mawem

Born on November 9, 1984, in Nouméa, New Caledonia, Bassa Mawem is a French professional speed climber. He discovered climbing at 15, developing a natural ability that evolved into a lifelong passion. This passion was shared with his younger brother, Mickaël Mawem, with climbing serving as an anchor in their lives. Despite being strong in bouldering, Bassa specialized in speed climbing, earning a spot on the French national team in 2011.

Mawem’s career highlights include becoming a French Champion in 2013 with a record time under six seconds. He secured a silver medal at the 2018 World Championships and won the speed event at the World Cup in Russia the same year, nearly setting a new record. In 2021, at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Mawem set an Olympic speed climbing record of 5.45 seconds during qualifications. However, an injury prevented him from competing in the combined final. He continued his competitive career, notably qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Bassa Mawem, along with his brother Mickaël, is a prominent figure in sport climbing, with both brothers pushing each other in their careers. He finished 7th in Men’s Speed climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Mawem’s achievements in the sport demonstrate his consistent performance and dedication to speed climbing at both national and international levels.