The 2025 IFSC Youth World Championships took place July 28 – August 3 in Helsinki, Finland, gathering the world’s best young climbers. Team Canada proudly filled its full quota of 36 spots across Boulder, Lead, and Speed, with 28 athletes competing in Helsinki.
This was a milestone year for the CEC Youth National Team Program, which introduced a three-tiered approach to development, leading up to the World Championships:
- Tier 1: Top-12 at Youth Nationals (Top-6 for Speed) → invitation to the Domestic Training Camp (Richmond Olympic Oval, June 28–July 1)
- Tier 2: Top-6 at Youth Nationals → invitation to the European Staging Camp (Innsbruck & Munich, July 16–23)
- Tier 3: Top-3 at Youth Nationals (or qualifying by policy) → invitation to represent Canada at the Youth World Championships
Highlights:
Thirteen athletes made their international debut with Team Canada, while 15 additional members of the team were returning from previous Youth World Championships.
Canada celebrated its first Youth A/B finalist since 2019
- Anna Kelley reached the finals in Boulder, placing 8th.
- Avery MacDonald set a new Canadian record in Speed (13th place, Youth B).
Notable Results:
- Anna Kelley – 8th, Youth A Bouldering (Finalist)
- Sienna Chow – 10th, Youth A Bouldering (Semi-finals)
- Avery MacDonald – 13th, Youth B Speed (New Canadian Record)
- Bruce Kong – 12th, Youth B Speed (Semi-finals)
- Nicholas Hsu – 13th, Youth B Speed (Semi-finals)
- Evan Lau – 22nd, Youth A Bouldering (Semi-finals)
Acknowledgments:
A huge thank you to our incredible coaching team, who guided the athletes throughout the European Staging Camp and Youth World Championships journey:
- Andrei Mandzuk (BC) – Co-Head Coach
- Regan Kennedy (AB) – Co-Head Coach
- Frédéric Desgranges (QC) – Assistant Coach
- Liz Maffett (ON) – Assistant Coach
- Olivier Dorion Theriault (QC) – Assistant Coach
- Alistair Jensen (BC) – Assistant Coach
Through collaborative efforts, the 2025 coaching team secured funding of $8,045 for this year’s program, which offset the cost of two additional national team coaches attending the Youth World Championships.
We also gratefully acknowledge the contributions to the Domestic Training Camp held at the Richmond Olympic Oval (June 28–July 1, 2025). Special thanks to Libor Hroza and Geoff Arrowsmith for their expertise, and to the route-setting team: Hayden Jones (Chief), Lucas Uchida, Jaeden McLean, and Kai Ohki.
Finally, heartfelt thanks to the many family members and partners who supported with transport, logistics, and on-the-ground needs in Helsinki. Your dedication and generosity made a huge difference, and the CEC community is deeply grateful. In particular, a huge thank you to those parents who participated as Parent Chaperones and completed all educational and certification requirements.
Full Canadian Results
Bouldering – Youth A & B
- Evan LAU (22) – Semi-finals
- Evan RAJAN (26) – Semi-finals
- Maxime THERIEN (51)
- Félix-Antoine PROVOST (44)
- Mathieu BONNEVILLE (55)
- Miles SKORYNA (57)
- Anna KELLEY (8) – Finals
- Avery MACDONALD (27)
- Sienna CHOW (10) – Semi-finals
- Amari BOURBONNAIS (27)
- Brooke WHITE (37)
- Madeline TZE (32)
Lead – Youth A & B
- Louka BOIVIN (25)
- Jack VANDERHEIDE (38)
- Maxime THERIEN (40)
- Dylan TALACKO (40)
- Nathaniel SMITH (50)
- William JOHNSTON (61)
- Grace KAM (41)
- Avery MACDONALD (48)
- Sienna CHOW (43)
- Amari BOURBONNAIS (53)
- Riley DOHERTY (55)
- Anabelle GONTHIER (64)
Speed – Youth A & B
- Toby BOSSERT (27)
- Bruce KONG (12) – Round of 16
- Louka BOIVIN (36)
- Nicholas HSU (13) – Round of 16
- Nataniel LAMOUREUX (37)
- Ryan BOU (19)
- Sienna CHOW (17)
- Avery MACDONALD (13) – New Canadian Record
- Ines FERRARINI (21)
- Anabelle GONTHIER (20)
- Kaitlyn DAVIES (30)
- Wai Ching Ashley KAM (24)
