Team Japan claimed the Lead prize at the Nations Grand Finale in Fukuoka to secure a double victory and close out the 2026 climbing season.
With a Boulder win already secured, the host nation capitalized on home advantage to finish ahead of South Korea and the United States, World Climbing reported. Japan’s lineup of Ryu Nakagawa, Hana Koike, Zento Murashita, and Neo Suzuki entered the final round needing a strong performance after finishing second behind South Korea in the morning qualification session.
Jongwon Chon fell relatively early after slightly misreading the route, which allowed Murashita to edge an advantage for the Japanese team, according to World Climbing. Nakagawa then extended that lead against Chaeyeong Kim, keeping Japan in front.
A heavyweight matchup followed between world champion Dohyun Lee and 2026 Lead series winner Neo Suzuki. Lee climbed well but fell short of the top, a height that Suzuki successfully reached, as World Climbing noted.
That performance put Team Japan out of sight in first place for the gold, rendering the final climb immaterial. Team Japan finished with a total points tally of 157.5 points, winning all of their matchups with high points on the wall. South Korea claimed second place with 125 points.
Team USA opened the competition strongly, with Vail Everett challenging Murashita at the top of the standings. However, the depth of the Asian teams allowed them to pull away as the rounds advanced. Everett’s performance helped secure the bronze medal for the United States, as teammates Francesca Hain, Nathan Sato, and Zoe Yi matched their Swiss counterparts.
Switzerland finished in fourth place with 96.5 points, while the United States rounded out the podium in third with 105 points. Like Chon, Swiss climbers Julian Clémence and Sofya Yokoyama fell behind the American squad.
The podium finishes in Fukuoka brought a definitive close to the Nations Grand Finale and the wider 2026 competitive season.
| Nation | Final Position | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Team Japan | 1st (Gold) | 157.5 |
| South Korea | 2nd (Silver) | 125.0 |
| Team USA | 3rd (Bronze) | 105.0 |
| Switzerland | 4th | 96.5 |
The event concluded the 2026 season following the elimination of Team Australia earlier in the day during the morning qualification rounds.
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