Sean McCollB次元官网网址檚 pursuit of another Olympic Games in sport climbing includes bringing the next generation of Canadian talent along with him.

A former four-time world champion in combined B次元官网网址� speed, bouldering and lead B次元官网网址� McColl is closer to the end of his career than the beginning at the age of 36.

But heB次元官网网址檚 not so much passing the torch as lighting it to guide climbers such as brothers Oscar and Victor Baudrand into territories McCollB次元官网网址檚 travelled.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 so important to me, mostly because at some time IB次元官网网址檓 going to stop, IB次元官网网址檓 going to retire,B次元官网网址� McColl said. B次元官网网址淚 need to transfer my knowledge.B次元官网网址�

The first man to represent Canada when sport climbing made its Olympic debut in Tokyo two years ago, McColl was as much a mentor for as he was a competitor of his boulder and lead teammates at the Pan American Games, where climbing also made its debut.

The U.S. swept the menB次元官网网址檚 boulder and lead podium late Monday evening at Cerrillos Park Climbing Walls. Gold medallist Jesse Grupper claimed a guaranteed berth in next summerB次元官网网址檚 Olympic Games in Paris.

McColl, 18-year-old Oscar Baudrand and his 20-year-old brother Victor ranked fourth to sixth respectively. After the bouldering round, McColl and Sean Bailey of the U.S. were tied for first.

When the eight finalists were given their allotted time to study the lead fixed course, McColl and his proteges discussed how each could clamber as high as they could in their six minutes.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e seen it all in the competitions and theyB次元官网网址檝e seen some. Maybe not all,B次元官网网址� said McColl of North Vancouver, B.C. B次元官网网址淚f I can slowly transfer that knowledge as a helper or as a coach, whatever it is, IB次元官网网址檓 willing to help these guys succeed.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 funny because Oscar is 18, IB次元官网网址檓 36. IB次元官网网址檓 twice his age. Victor is 20 and they just soak up information so quickly. Their minds are already built for the sport. Physically theyB次元官网网址檙e built for the sport as well. They are the future. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to be doing this in 20 years. They could be in 20 years. I just want them to absorb as much as they can.B次元官网网址�

For the Baudrand brothers, born in Quebec City and now based in Salt Lake City, Utah, McCollB次元官网网址檚 guidance in their first multi-sport Games was a steadying influence.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very different than what IB次元官网网址檓 used to. For the first time, it felt like I was competing for Canada,B次元官网网址� Oscar said.

B次元官网网址淪ean McColl is someone IB次元官网网址檝e looked up to for a long time. I had my favourites that were maybe not Sean McColl before I met him, but heB次元官网网址檚 a huge idol to me.

B次元官网网址淭he amount of experience he has is almost unmatched and thereB次元官网网址檚 so much IB次元官网网址檝e learned from him over the past few years climbing with him.B次元官网网址�

Added Victor: B次元官网网址淚 joined the circuit two or three years ago and he has been a mentor ever since. He plays a large role in developing and pushing us younger guys to our potential. He made me feel today I can continue to do this with him. I want to continue to do this with him.

B次元官网网址淗opefully one day I become him and I can help others reach their potential.B次元官网网址�

McColl suffered a rib injury on his final bouldering pass at the Pan Ams, and felt his arms give out halfway up the lead wall.

B次元官网网址淩eally happy with the bouldering round. Definitely the highlight of the day,B次元官网网址� McColl said.

He placed 17th in Tokyo where medals were determined by combined performances over the three disciplines.

Speed, in which two climbers sprint up a wall to touch the timing pad first, will be its own medal event in Paris next year.

Lead and bouldering will remain a combined competition. If those two disciplines were split for Los Angeles in 2028, McColl would be motivated to continue another Olympic quadrennial to 2028 because lead climbing is his strength.

Canada can send up to two men in lead and bouldering to Paris in 2024 via a pair of Olympic qualifying events next year.

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 Paris or L.A. for the Baudrands, McColl says the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile, accelerated their learning curves.

B次元官网网址淭hey will be better than me, whether theyB次元官网网址檙e better now or in a year or two or four doesnB次元官网网址檛 matter,B次元官网网址� the veteran said. B次元官网网址淭hey will be better than me and I want to be there to mentor them through it.B次元官网网址�

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