In an impressive display of determination, Santa Cruz native Natalia Grossman clinched the gold medal at the 2026 YETI Boulder National Championships, held at High Point Climbing and Fitness in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday. Despite recovering from a partially dislocated right shoulder — an injury sustained in the previous month — Grossman secured her second Boulder national title and her first since 2020.
Grossman, a four-time IFSC World Champion and 2024 Olympian, faced a challenging path to the final. She earned the last spot in the ten-climber final after posting a score of 20.0 in the semifinals, which included a successful appeal for advancement after initially being told she did not qualify. Overwhelmed with relief, Grossman expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete once more, particularly with the U.S. National Team Trials approaching quickly, scheduled for March 4-8, 2026, at Portland Rock Gym in Beaverton, Oregon.
“I wasn’t sure if I wanted to compete or not, and I’m like, I’m just going to show up and look at the boulders. And they were probably the most shoulder-friendly boulders we’ve had all weekend,” Grossman told commentator Meagan Martin during her post-victory interview on Outdoor TV. “Qualifiers were the worst. … Yeah, shock.”
Grossman triumphed in the final with a score of 84.9, successfully topping three of the four problems, all achieved on her first attempts. Her emotional victory was captured by camera crews as she sat alone, visibly moved before the awards presentation. “It was pretty freeing,” she remarked, reflecting on the intense emotions experienced throughout the competition.
The victory is particularly significant considering Grossman’s recent struggles with injuries. Last year, she underwent surgery for an ACL and meniscus injury on her left knee, making her comeback all the more commendable. In the women’s final, Brooke Raboutou from Boulder, Colorado, took home the silver medal with a score of 69.2, while three-time champion Melina Costanza from Seattle earned bronze with a score of 54.5.
Raboutou also excelled in the semifinals, achieving the top score of 74.1, while Costanza followed closely with a score of 54.7. During the qualifying round, Grossman finished with the ninth best score of 79.3 among an initial field of 70 female competitors.
In the men’s Boulder final, Hugo Hoyer from Chattanooga, Tennessee, claimed his first national title with a score of 44.9. Cozmo Rothfork from Albuquerque, New Mexico, secured silver with 39.1, and Sergey Lakhno from Seattle earned bronze with 34.9. The national championships began earlier in the week, featuring various climbing disciplines.
Raboutou also earned gold in the Lead competition, while Sophia Curcio from Charlotte, North Carolina, won the Speed final. In the men’s Lead competition, Colin Duffy from Broomfield, Colorado, took gold, and Ben Jennings from Carmel, Indiana, secured victory in the Speed final.
Natalia Grossman’s journey at the 2026 YETI Boulder National Championships not only highlights her remarkable talent but also serves as an inspiring reminder of resilience in the face of adversity.
