Julia Chanourdie

Julia Chanourdie was born on June 25, 1996, in France. She began climbing at the age of two, growing up in her parents’ climbing gym in Annecy. Early in her career, Chanourdie quickly established herself within the competitive climbing circuit, participating in her first documented events in 2010. She achieved her first international podium finish at the World Youth Championships in 2013, securing a bronze medal in lead climbing. Her consistent performance and dedication led to further bronze medals in lead climbing at the World Youth Championships in both 2014 and 2015.

Chanourdie’s professional career progressed with notable achievements in World Cup events and major competitions. In 2015, she placed 5th in her first lead World Cup final in Puurs, Belgium, signifying her emergence on the senior international stage. A significant milestone occurred in 2017 when she sent her first 9a (5.14d) route, “Ground Zero,” in Tetto di Sarre, Italy. That same year, she earned a bronze medal at The World Games 2017 in Wrocław, Poland, and achieved her first World Cup podium, placing 3rd in Wujiang, China. Her climb of “Mollasse’son” and “La cabane au Canada” in 2018 marked her second and third 9a ascents, demonstrating her consistent high-level performance in outdoor climbing.

A pivotal moment in Chanourdie’s career came in 2019 when she qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Leading up to the Olympics, she continued to push her limits in sport climbing, making headlines in March 2020 by becoming the fourth woman to climb above the grade of 9a+ (5.15a) with her ascent of “Super Crackinette.” Later that year, on November 7, 2020, she achieved a historic feat by becoming only the second woman ever to climb a 9b (5.15b) route, “Eagle–4,” in Saint-Léger-du-Ventoux, France. This accomplishment cemented her status as one of the elite climbers globally. Notably, she also secured a gold medal in the Duel discipline at the Rock Masters in 2017.