Erin McNeice wins first Boulder World Cup gold in Bern 2025

Erin McNeice made history at the IFSC World Cup in Bern by topping every boulder problem in the women’s final and securing her first Boulder gold medal [2]. The 22‑year‑old Briton had already won Lead World Cup titles earlier in the season, making her the first British woman to claim World Cup victories in both disciplines [1].

Key takeaways

• McNeice topped all four boulders in the Bern final, earning 99.5 points [2]
• She became the first British woman to win World Cup gold in both Boulder and Lead [1]
• The win followed Lead victories in Wujiang and Bali earlier in 2025 [1]
• McNeice’s performance was over 15 points ahead of second‑place Annie Sanders [2]

Bern breakthrough: perfect four‑top performance

The Bern women's Boulder final saw McNeice deliver a flawless run, flashing the first and third problems and securing a perfect four‑top score [2]. Her 99.5‑point total left her well ahead of USA’s Annie Sanders, who finished second with 84.4 points, and Japan’s Miho Nonaka, who was just 0.1 points behind Sanders [2]. The British climber’s dominance was highlighted by her ability to finish each problem on the first attempt, a rarity at this level of competition.

Completing the “golden trio” – Lead and Boulder titles in one season

Earlier in 2025, McNeice had already captured Lead World Cup gold in Wujiang, China, and again in Bali, Indonesia, solidifying her status as a dual‑discipline champion [1]. Those victories, combined with her Bern Boulder triumph, gave her a “golden trio” of World Cup titles across both disciplines [2]. In a post‑race interview, McNeice expressed surprise and joy at the achievement, noting her decision to focus on European events to maximize training time between tours [2]. She also confirmed she will not pursue Speed climbing, citing her physical build as a factor [2].

Why it matters

McNeice’s Bern victory underscores the rising prominence of British women in elite sport climbing, following earlier successes by Shauna Coxsey and Claire Bell in bouldering [1]. By securing World Cup gold in both Boulder and Lead, she sets a new benchmark for future UK climbers and expands the nation’s competitive profile on the global stage. The next steps for McNeice include targeting the remaining European World Cups and maintaining her momentum into the 2026 season, where she already claimed a Bouldering gold in Madrid [1]. Her achievements highlight the effectiveness of her training pathway—from early years in Malaysia to senior national titles—and suggest a continued upward trajectory for British climbing.