From Araotz to Tokio. 2020 is the year of the Olympic Climbing. 2020 will be Mikel Linacisoro’s year.

“With about ten years I started going to the climbing wall and without noticing it, with 11 years, I went from doing fifth and sixth grades with my family to send my first 8a outdoors:“ Gena de Cartagena” in one of the best climbing schools I know , near my house: Araotz (Oñati). With 12 years my first 8c "White Zombie" in the cave of Baltzola, the following year with 13 years I chained my first 8c+ again in Araotz: "Koldoren mundua" and "Honky Mix" and with 15 years I made my first 9a "Begi Puntuan "in Echauri."

These were the beginnings of what is currently one of the best climbers in Spain and one with the higher options to be part of the Spanish Olympic climbing team next year in Tokyo.

Mikel is the current overall Champion of the Spanish Boulder Cup (winning two of the three tests, in Salamanca and Fuenlabrada). In addition, today, he is in third place in the U-20 Lead European Cup and getting a second place overall in the Boulder European Cup in Innsbruck.

After the Tokyo World Championships, until the end of the year the competition calendar will be intense and extensive:

• IFSC Youth World Championships (Boulder, Speed, Lead), Arco (Italy) – 22-31 August.

• European Championships (Boulder), Zakopane (Poland) – 5-7 September.

• European Youth Championships (Boulder), Brixen (Italy) – 20-22 September.

• IFSC Climbing World Cup (Lead), Kranj (Slovenja) – 28-29 September.

• European Championships (Lead, Speed), Edimburgh (GBR) – 4-6 October.

• IFSC Climbing World Cup (Lead), Xiamen (China) – 18-20 October.

• IFSC Climbing World Cup (Lead), Inzai (Japan) – 26-27 October.

• IFSC Combines Qualifier Toulouse/Tournefeuille (France) - 28 Novembre - 1 December.

“I enjoy competing, pushing myself and improving. The competition motivates me and the climbers are like a family when we are together we support, enjoy, share those moments. I have competed in skiing too and the atmosphere is different, I have to admit that climbing has haunted me. My motivation and short-term goals are the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games”.