Santa Cruz native Natalia Grossman secured a remarkable victory at the 2026 YETI Boulder National Championships, held at High Point Climbing and Fitness in Orlando, Florida. Despite recovering from a partially dislocated right shoulder sustained in February, Grossman showcased her exceptional talent by winning gold on Sunday, marking her second Boulder national title and her first since 2020.
Grossman, aged 24, is a four-time IFSC World Champion and a competitor in the upcoming 2024 Olympics. Her journey to victory was not without its challenges. She clinched the last spot in the ten-climber final, posting a score of 20.0 in the semifinals. Initially, she faced disappointment when she thought she would not advance, but her subsequent appeal allowed her to compete. In an emotional moment, Grossman expressed relief over not risking further injury, particularly with the U.S. National Team Trials approaching on March 4-8 at the 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 shared during her post-victory interview with commentator Meagan Martin on Outdoor TV. She went on to dominate the final, achieving a score of 84.9 and topping three of the four problems on her first try.
The emotional weight of the competition was evident as camera crews captured Grossman seated alone, deeply moved after her victory. “It was pretty freeing,” she stated, reflecting on the intensity of her experience. “Lots of sobbing has happened in this competition, lots of emotions.”
This win adds to her impressive resume, especially considering her recent recovery from ACL and meniscus surgery on her left knee last March. In the women’s final, Brooke Raboutou from Boulder, Colorado, earned silver with a score of 69.2, while three-time champion Melina Costanza from Seattle took bronze with a score of 54.5. Raboutou also led the semifinals with a score of 74.1, and Costanza was close behind with 54.7. Grossman had initially placed ninth in qualifiers among a field of 70 female athletes, posting a score of 79.3.
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, earned silver, and Sergey Lakhno from Seattle secured bronze. The national championships commenced on Wednesday and featured multiple disciplines, with Raboutou also winning gold in the Lead competition. In the men’s Lead event, Colin Duffy from Broomfield, Colorado, took home gold, while Ben Jennings from Carmel, Indiana, won the Speed final.
Grossman’s resilience and determination continue to inspire the climbing community, as she prepares for the forthcoming trials and maintains her position among the elite in competitive climbing.
