Introduction

A World Youth Champion in 2019, Team USA anticipated great things from young Emma Hunt of Woodstock, Georgia. They might not have expected her to make such a mark in her first full senior season in 2021 and claim the overall World Cup title after the Covid-19 pandemic pause. Granted, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Covid-impacted entries made for an unusual IFSC circuit, but given the unpredictabiity of Speed, Hunt managed an impressive feat of consistency, placing 2nd on home turf in Salt Lake City, then 5th and 7th before winning the PanAmerican Championships.

In 2022, her results improved further: she finished no lower than 6th and earned two silver medals and a World Games title. 2023 was similarly consistent, with three more silver medals —in a World Cup, a World Championship and the Pan American Games, earning her an Olympic ticket at the first time of asking in Bern as vice-world champion.

Hunt's approach to Speed competition—typically a tense and nervy affair—appears to place an emphasis on fun and a light-hearted approach. She can often be seen giving herself a pep-talk, smiling with her eyes closed as she repeats a mantra before turning towards the start pad. 

Qualification route

IFSC World Championships Bern 2023 - Speed - 2nd place

Only two Speed tickets were awarded in Bern, and the race to claim it was heart-in-mouth, with many slips. 

The semi-final runs decided the top two athletes and Hunt was the first to win her race and earn an Olympic quota place after beating odds-on favourite Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL), who slipped low down. In the final race, Made Rita Kusuma Dewi (INA) won in a close-fought battle with a time of 6.49 seconds ahead of Hunt, who set a new PanAmerican record time in the process of 6.67 seconds.

Trivia

Hunt was the first sport climbing athlete to secure a quota place for Paris 2024. Having already qualified, had Hunt won the IFSC Pan American Games in Santiago, the continental ticket would have been transferred to teammate Piper Kelly, who ultimately managed to secure a win and a Paris place outright.

UKC prediction

Hunt's upward trajectory and her strong performance at a high-pressure event in Bern bodes well for Paris 2024. Her happy-go-lucky attitude could pay off. We expect Hunt to make finals and finish in the top 5. A first World Cup win in 2024 would boost her confidence.