Sky Scholar and climber Molly Thompson-Smith makes World Cup podium in Kranj
By Mark Ashenden
Last Updated: 13/11/17 12:52pm
Molly Thompson-Smith became the first British woman to win a Lead Climbing World Cup medal after a stunning show in Slovenia on Sunday.
The Sky Sports Scholar, who has only just turned 20, headed to Kranj at the weekend having already impressed in the World Cup series in China last month and making the last three finals.
But the Londoner went one better to cap a fabulous season - her first campaign as a senior - to finish behind Slovenia's Janja Garnbret and South Korean Jain Kim.
"This season was more than I could have hoped for," Thompson-Smith told Sky Sports News.
"It's always been a dream of mine to climb in front of the crowd in a final in Kranj and it was better than I could have imagined.
"To come away with a medal made the long season and all the training so worth it. I can't wait to start training for next season and really push myself and see where I can take it."
Thompson-Smith will be hoping to represent Team GB at the Tokyo Games in 2020 where sport climbing will make its Olympic debut.
In Japan, lead climbing will be one of three disciplines the athletes will compete in, alongside bouldering and speed.
Thompson-Smith became the youngest senior national champion for lead-climbing at the age of 15 and her world ranking has never been outside the top 10 at junior level after becoming No 1 three years ago.
It's been quite a breakthrough year having made her first senior Climbing Lead World Cup final. She was the first Briton to do this in 13 years.
Thompson-Smith is one of 12 Sky Sports Scholars from across Europe and will benefit over the next three years from financial aid, mentoring, media training, personal development and work experience.
