Lead climbing is a climbing sport performed indoors on an artificial climbing wall. The objective is to climb a long, difficult route within a pre-determined timeframe. This displine most resembles ourdoor rock climbing.

In many competitions, climbers have limited time to inspect the route before climbing, and must must climb the route without seeing other climbers or receive any form of feedback from others. Competitors clip their rope into pre-placed quickdraws along the route. The climber to make it the furtherest along the route is declared the winner.

lead climbing route lead climbing route

At the Olympics, the sport of lead climbing was introduced as part of the sport climbing event.