Here’s Who’s Joining the USA National Team in 2026

Why It Matters

The roster determines which U.S. climbers will compete internationally and influences the pool vying for limited Olympic quota spots, shaping the country's medal prospects.

Key Takeaways

• Five men and five women per discipline selected.
• Annie Sanders pre‑selected for both boulder and lead.
• Natalia Grossman missed boulder team after injury setbacks.
• Colin Duffy the only dual‑discipline male athlete.
• Speed teams feature pre‑selected athletes Emma Hunt, Samuel Watson.

Pulse Analysis

The 2026 USA National Team announcements reflect a strategic blend of seasoned talent and emerging prospects across the three climbing disciplines. In Boulder and Lead, athletes such as Annie Sanders and Brooke Raboutou continue to dominate, leveraging strong performances from previous World Cup circuits. Their pre‑selection underscores a data‑driven approach by USA Climbing, rewarding consistency while still allowing the trials to surface new contenders like Melina Costanza and Ella Fisher. This balance aims to field the most competitive line‑up for upcoming World Climbing events.

In the men’s division, Colin Duffy stands out as the only climber to earn dual spots in both Boulder and Lead, highlighting his versatility and endurance. The rest of the male roster—Auggie Chi, Hugo Hoyer, Vail Everett, and Ben Hanna in Boulder; Jesse Grupper, Sergey Lakhno, Ross Fulkerson, and Dillon Countryman in Lead—brings a mix of power athletes and technical specialists. Their recent trial performances suggest a deepening talent pool that could challenge traditional European powerhouses on the world stage.

Speed climbing, now an Olympic staple, features pre‑selected veterans Emma Hunt and Samuel Watson, complemented by rising stars like Sophia Curcio and Zachary Hammer. Their inclusion signals USA Climbing’s intent to capitalize on the discipline’s growing popularity and to secure the maximum athlete quota for the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Games. As the athletes transition from national trials to World Cup circuits, their development will be closely watched by sponsors, broadcasters, and the broader climbing community, all eager to see the United States contend for podium finishes.