Rock climbing made its debut at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan (postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). The decision was based on a single, but critical factor – the International Federation of Sport Climbing, in 2015, estimated that there were 35 million climbers worldwide. It was a more than enough indication of the popularity the sport has garnered over the years.

Considering its rich history, its inclusion as an Olympic sport was a long time coming, though.