Julian David and Sarah Tetzlaff have become the first New Zealand climbers to ever qualify for an Olympic Games, following wins at the Oceania qualifier in Melbourne on Sunday night.
Competing in the speed climbing discipline, Junior World Champion 18-year-old Julian David from Tauranga breezed through the opening rounds to make the men’s final.
Up against Australian Hayden Barton in the gold medal race David was clinical, finishing in 6.77s to Barton’s 7.5s.
“I cannot believe it. I’ve dreamed of all sorts of outcomes. I’ve woken up at night thinking oh man what if this happens’ and it has actually happened so it’s absolutely surreal,” said David.
“I have a bit of an off season now for a month and then I will hit 2024 in full training and see what I can come out with at the end.”