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Annie Sanders

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Annie Sanders
Sanders at 2025 Prague World Cup
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Born (2007-07-22) July 22, 2007 (age 17)
Fort Worth, Texas
Height162 cm (5 ft 4 in)[2]
Climbing career
Type of climber
Highest grade5.14a (8b+) (flash)[1]
Medal record
Women's competition climbing
Representing  United States
World Cup
Bronze medal – third place Salt Lake City 2025 Bouldering
Bronze medal – third place Wujiang 2025 Bouldering
Gold medal – first place Seoul 2024 Bouldering
Bronze medal – third place Salt Lake City 2025 Bouldering
Bronze medal – third place Wujiang 2025 Lead
Bronze medal – third place Seoul 2024 Lead
Bronze medal – third place Koper 2024 Lead
Bronze medal – third place Innsbruck 2024 Bouldering

Anastasia "Annie" Sanders (born July 22, 2007) is an American rock climber specializing in competition climbing, competing in Boulder, Lead, and Combined formats. Sanders burst onto the global scene at the 2021 IFSC World Youth Championships in Voronezh, sweeping three gold medals in Lead, Boulder, and Combined—all before turning 15.[3] She also made headlines in October 2021 at the Red River Gorge, flashing the test-piece Omaha Beach (5.14a/F8b+), establishing her as a rising star in outdoor sport climbing.[4]

Early life

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Sanders was born on July 22, 2007, in Fort Worth, Texas, and grew up in a passionate climbing family. Her mother is both a climber and a coach, and Annie began climbing indoors and outdoors as early as age two and competing in youth events around seven years old. Summers for her family often involved camping and visiting climbing destinations—such as the Red River Gorge—and attending the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Vail.

By the time she entered high school, Sanders balanced a rigorous schedule of AP classes with intensive training and competitions. A 2024 NBC Dallas, Fort Worth profile highlighted how she structures her days around schoolwork and climbing, managing travel, rest, and competition preparation like a full-time athlete, all while keeping her sights set on the 2028 Olympics.[5][6]

Climbing career

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Transitioning to senior competition, Sanders reached finals at Salt Lake City (4th) and Seoul (5th) during the 2023 IFSC World Cup season.[7] She continued her meteoric rise in 2024, claiming her first Boulder World Cup victory in Seoul with three tops and four zones in finals.[8][9] That season included podium finishes in Lead—Bronze medals in Koper and Seoul—and a 4th-place overall in Boulder World Cup standings.[10]

National titles

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  • Three-time U.S. national bouldering champion – 2022 (G-1 Boulder Final), 2023 (Mesa Rim Final), 2024 (Sportrock Team Trials Final)
  • Two-time U.S. national lead climbing champion – 2022 (G-1 Lead Final), 2024 (Sportrock Team Trials Final)
  • U.S. national combined youth champion – 2021 (IFSC Youth World Championships, Voronezh)

Notes: The 2022 and 2024 national titles were earned during USA Climbing National Championships and National Team Trials, the highest levels of domestic competition. Sanders was only 15 years old when she claimed both elite bouldering and lead titles in 2024, making her one of the youngest American climbers to achieve this feat.[11]

2021 World Cup Season

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In 2021, Sanders won gold medals in the bouldering, lead, and combined bouldering and lead events at the IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships.[12]

2022 World Cup Season

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In 2022, Sanders repeated as Youth World Champion in bouldering.[13] She won the USA Climbing National Championships in both bouldering and lead, her first senior competition at age 15.[14][15]

Sanders in 2025 at a IFSC World Cup Prague

2023 World Cup Season

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In 2023, Sanders again swept the competition at the 2023 USA Climbing National Team Trials, winning the bouldering, lead and combined events, thereby qualifying to compete as part of the United States national team on the international senior circuit at age 15-16.[16] Sanders reached two bouldering finals during the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Cup season, placing 4th in Salt Lake City and 5th in the Seoul, and reached the final of the combined bouldering and lead event at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships, where she finished in eighth place.[2][17]

2024 World Cup Season

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In 2024, Sanders won her first World Cup medals, collecting one gold medal and one bronze medal in the Boulder World Cup and two bronze medals in the Lead World Cup.[18][19][20][21]

2025 World Cup Season

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She kept momentum going into 2025 by topping the first Boulder World Cup in Keqiao, China—becoming the fifth American woman to win multiple Boulder World Cups—and added a bronze at Salt Lake City.[22]

World Cup Results

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IFSC World Cup Medals

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Bouldering

Season Gold Silver Bronze Total
2024 1 1 2
2025 1 1 2
Total 2 0 2 4

Lead

Season Gold Silver Bronze Total
2024 2 2
2025 1 1
Total 0 0 3 3

IFSC World Cup Podiums

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Year Event City Discipline Rank
2025 IFSC World Cup Salt Lake City, USA Boulder 3rd
2025 IFSC World Cup Wujiang, CHN Boulder 3rd
2025 IFSC World Cup Keqiao, CHN Boulder 1st
2024 IFSC World Cup Seoul Boulder 1st
2024 IFSC World Cup Seoul Lead 3rd
2024 IFSC World Cup Koper Boulder 3rd
2024 IFSC World Cup Innsbruck Boulder 3rd

IFSC Youth World Cup Podiums

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Year Event City Discipline Rank
2022 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Dallas, USA Boulder 1st
2021 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Voronezh, Russia Lead 1st
2021 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Voronezh, Russia Boulder 1st
2021 IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships Voronezh, Russia Combined 1st

Notable ascents

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Sanders has made several outdoor ascents of sport climbing routes at grade 5.13 (7c+) or higher in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, including a flash of Omaha Beach at 5.14a (8b+), in October 2021.

Redpointed routes

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5.14a (8b+)

5.13c (8a+)

  • The Madness, Red River Gorge, October 2021[23]

Personal life

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Sanders attends an online learning program within the Grapevine–Colleyville Independent School District, which provides the flexibility needed to pursue her elite climbing career while continuing her education.[25][26] The arrangement has allowed her to travel for international competitions and USA Climbing events, including senior-level tournaments, while maintaining her academic progress.

References

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  1. ^ Delaney, Miller (October 28, 2021). "14-Year-Old American Wins Worlds, Then Flashes 5.14a". Climbing. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Anastasia Sanders". International Federation of Sport Climbing. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Delaney, Miller (October 28, 2021). "14‑Year‑Old American Wins Worlds, Then Flashes 5.14a". Climbing Magazine. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  4. ^ "Anastasia Sanders on fire in the Red". Climber Magazine. October 20, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  5. ^ "North Texas Teen Climber Sets Sights on 2028 Olympics". NBC DFW. February 16, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  6. ^ "At just 15, Mansfield teen Annie Sanders wins USA Climbing National Team Trials". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 5, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  7. ^ Pardy, Aaron (2023). "Team USA's Annie Sanders Wins First World Cup of the Year". Gripped. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  8. ^ "Sanders Claims First Win and Golden Lee Pleases Seoul Crowd". IFSC. October 8, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  9. ^ "USA Wins 2 Medals and 2 Series Titles at World Cup Seoul 2024". USA Climbing. October 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  10. ^ "USA Wins 2 Medals and 2 Series Titles at World Cup Seoul 2024". USA Climbing. October 7, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  11. ^ "At just 15, Mansfield teen Annie Sanders wins USA Climbing National Team Trials". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. March 5, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "USA's Anastasia Sanders Shines With Three Gold Medals at 2021 IFSC Youth World Championships". International Federation of Sport Climbing. August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  13. ^ "DOUBLE DALLAS DELIGHT FOR USA AT YOUTH WORLDS". International Federation of Sport Climbing. August 25, 2022. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  14. ^ Pardy, Aaron (November 14, 2022). "USA Lead Climbing National Champions Crowned in Colorado". Gripped. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  15. ^ Burgman, John (November 14, 2022). "Newcomers Make Big Statements at US National Championships". Climbing. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  16. ^ Pardy, Aaron (March 4, 2023). "15-Year-Old Wins USA Climbing Women's National Team Trials". Gripped. Retrieved April 14, 2023..
  17. ^ Burgman, John (August 14, 2023). "Colin Duffy Qualifies for the Paris Olympics; World Championships Results, Recap, Highs and Lows". Climbing. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  18. ^ Vettoretti, Marco (June 27, 2024). "Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing". www.ifsc-climbing.org. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  19. ^ Aspland, Richard (September 7, 2024). "Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing". www.ifsc-climbing.org. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  20. ^ Aspland, Richard (October 3, 2024). "Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing". www.ifsc-climbing.org. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  21. ^ Aspland, Richard (October 6, 2024). "Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing". www.ifsc-climbing.org. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  22. ^ "Sanders Wins Gold at World Cup Keqiao 2025". USA Climbing. April 21, 2025. Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Anastasia Sanders on fire in the Red | Climber Magazine". climber.co.uk. October 20, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Walker, Noah (August 31, 2021). "American Annie Sanders Wins Three Gold Medals". Gripped. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  25. ^ "15-Year-Old Fort Worth Climber Is Making Her Mark". AOL. February 20, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  26. ^ "15-Year-Old Fort Worth Climber Is Making Her Mark". Yahoo News. February 20, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
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