A four-part documentary series filmed at selected IFSC events in 2023 has been launched by National Geographic, with the first two episodes already available on YouTube, and the final pair coming out in the upcoming days.

The series, titled The Crux, follows the emotional path of the athletes through a number of events that could potentially qualify them for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Starting from last year’s IFSC World Championships in Bern, Switzerland, the series also develops at the IFSC European Qualifer in Laval, France, IFSC Asian Qualifier in Jakarta, Indonesia, and IFSC Oceania Qualifier in Melbourne, Australia.

Directed by Nonuk Walter, Cole Sax and Phil Hessler for Think Less Studios, and executive produced by Academy Award© winners Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin for Little Monsters Films, the series grants the viewers unprecedented full access behind the scenes of IFSC competitions, from the isolation to the after-climb areas.

Starring in the first two episodes of The Crux are Paris 2024 Olympic champions Janja Garnbret of Slovenia and Toby Roberts of Great Britain, while additional storylines also follow the paths of young French talents Oriane Bertone and Mejdi Schalck, Campbell Harrison of Australia, Ievgeniia Kazbekova of Ukraine, Jakob Schubert of Austria, and Alannah Yip of Canada.

Episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on the NatGeo YouTube channel. Episodes 3 and 4 are going to be published on Monday, 26 August.