Piper Kelly, Samuel Watson qualify for U.S. Olympic team in speed climbing
Written by Black Hot Fire Network on October 22, 2023
Piper Kelly and Samuel Watson won the speed climbing events at the Pan American Games to become the third and fourth American climbers to clinch a 2024 Olympic spot.
Kelly, a 24-year-old from Indianapolis, earned her spot when she beat 17-year-old countrywoman Sophia Curcio in Saturday’s semifinals in Santiago, Chile.
In each climbing event at Pan Ams, the top finisher not already qualified for Paris gets an Olympic spot. The other finalist, American Emma Hunt, previously qualified for the Olympics by taking silver at August’s world championships.
