Sport Climbing at the Olympics: Combined Event  At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, sport climbing became an official event, featuring a captivating format that combined three distinct disciplines: Speed Climbing, Bouldering, and Lead Climbing. This format allowed climbers to showcase their versatility and agility across all three disciplines, culminating in a thrilling competition. 

Disciplines: Speed Climbing: In this discipline, two climbers compete head-to-head on an identical 15-meter wall, aiming to reach the top in the shortest time possible. The standardized route levels the field, showcasing the climbers' raw speed and power. 

Bouldering: Climbers scale shorter walls (4-5 meters) without ropes. 

* They attempt challenges called "boulders," which test their technique, strength, and problem-solving skills.

 * Points are given for completing boulders with fewer attempts. 

Lead Climbing: Climbers ascend a 15-meter wall as high as they can within 6 minutes. 

* The routes vary in difficulty and are not predetermined. 

* Climbers must secure their rope to quickdraws, requiring endurance and mental focus.

Combined Format for Tokyo Olympics Climbing In the Combined format, climbers competed in all disciplines of speed, bouldering, and lead climbing. Their final scores were calculated by multiplying their rankings in each discipline, with lower scores indicating better overall performance. For instance, a climber who ranked 1st in speed, 2nd in bouldering, and 3rd in lead would have a score of 6 (1 x 2 x 3). 

Standout Competitors and Performances Men's Competition:** Prominent climbers in the men's competition included Adam Ondra (Czech Republic), Tomoa Narasaki (Japan), and Alberto Ginés López (Spain). Ondra, renowned for his lead climbing abilities, faced stiff competition from bouldering specialist Narasaki.

Women's Competition: Leading climbers such as Slovenia's Janja Garnbret, Japan's Miho Nonaka, and Akiyo Noguchi competed in the women's event. Garnbret's impressive performances in Bouldering and Lead Climbing earned her the gold medal, while Nonaka and Noguchi's consistent performances secured them silver and bronze, respectively. 

Controversy surrounding Combined Format: The format of the event, which combined Speed Climbing, Bouldering, and Lead Climbing, faced criticism. Some climbers and fans argued that these disciplines are separate and require specialized training. They believed that combining them into a single event did not fairly assess the skills of climbers specializing in specific disciplines.

Elite climber Adam Ondra and his colleagues criticized the Tokyo Olympics' climbing format, advocating that Speed Climbing's explosive style should be its own event, distinct from the endurance and technique required in Bouldering and Lead Climbing. In response, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) modified the format for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Speed Climbing will now be a standalone event, while Bouldering and Lead Climbing will be combined into one competition. This adjustment aims to more accurately reflect athletes' skills and alleviate the concerns raised about the previous format.

Athletes preparing for the Combined format had to diversify their training. Climbers needed to balance speed, power, technique, and endurance. This meant longer and more varied sessions, focusing on weaknesses while maintaining strengths. Coaches and athletes implemented innovative approaches. Speed specialists incorporated endurance drills, while bouldering and lead climbers developed explosive power. This comprehensive training approach boosted performance, versatility, and adaptability.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the Combined format introduced a new era for sport climbing. It showcased climbers' diverse abilities in Speed, Bouldering, and Lead events, leading to exciting matches. While the format received both praise and criticism, it sparked discussions about how to best represent the different skills needed in climbing. As the sport continues to develop and anticipate the Paris 2024 Games, changes in the format acknowledge the specific challenges of each discipline. Sport climbing's inclusion in the Olympics has greatly boosted its popularity and inspired climbers everywhere. The format used at Tokyo 2020 will continue to impact and guide the future of sport climbing.