How climbing became the hottest Olympic sport – with help from Harry Styles and Lady Gaga

By Alan Smith It was the breakout event at Tokyo's Olympics, leaving an unacquainted TV audience captivated by its combination of strength, speed and unpredictability. Now, as the Paris Games appear on the horizon, climbing has become one of the world's fastest-growing sports – and its biggest British star is urging anyone compelled by the action on screen to give it a go themselves. For Shauna Coxsey, GB's sole representative in Japan, the sport she fell in love with has transformed from a “niche” pursuit where “everyone looked and acted in the same way” to accessible for anyone eager to asce…

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