Toby Roberts: Team GB star reflects on ‘truly incredible’ climbing gold at Paris Olympics - ‘It still hasn’t sunk in’

Toby Roberts has looked back on a "truly incredible" climbing gold at Paris 2024, the first Team GB Olympic medal in the sport. The 19-year-old's historic efforts still have not hit him following the dramatic finish. “I’m still absolutely buzzing, it’s been quite a while since I won and it still hasn’t sunk in yet, it was truly incredible,” the teenager told Eurosport.

'I don't think this is ever going to sink in,' says Roberts after glorious gold

Video credit: TNT Sports

Toby Roberts was elated at the thought of becoming a silver medallist in the men’s climbing at Paris 2024 until Japan’s Sorato Anraku fell to hand the 19-year-old Brit a stunning Olympic gold.

The teenager beamed with joy when the realisation suddenly struck that he had clinched a dramatic gold medal in Friday’s climactic event – making him GB's youngest medallist at the Games so far.

Afterwards, Roberts admitted that he was not even sure that he had won at first, but a quick confirmation from his coaches allowed the Team GB star to revel in celebration.

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“I’m still absolutely buzzing, it’s been quite a while since I won and it still hasn’t sunk in yet, it was truly incredible,” he told Eurosport.

“I knew that I had won the silver when I fell off so I was already so happy with that, and then to see Sorata when he fell off, I didn’t quite know how the scores had added up.

“I look over to my coaches and they gave me the confirmation and that’s when the adrenaline hits and the ‘wow, I’ve just won a gold medal!'”

Watch GB's Roberts realise he has won gold - 'I don't think anyone can believe it!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

He added: “I just absolutely love trying hard. I absolutely love climbing, turning up to training, turning up to a competition.

“For me it’s just about leaving it all on the wall and trying my hardest.”

Last year, Roberts became the first British climber to qualify for the Olympic Games.

He is well known in the climbing community for being the youngest climber from Great Britain to redpoint a 9a – one of the hardest climbing routes.

“That’s what I really love about the sport, how unique it is,” Roberts explained. “So when I’m on the wall and I really have to fight, that’s what I love the most about climbing.

“It’s when you’re there and you’re really feeling the burn and you have to give everything to be on the wall.

“But that moment when you’re there, just trying to get one more move and just stay in the moment, try to relax when your body is just telling you to let go.”

Watch as Roberts' golden display brings fans to their feet - 'There are screams in the crowd!'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Roberts made history by bringing home Britain's first-ever climbing Olympic medal.

The Surrey-born talent hopes his efforts will help the sport to continue to grow, which was "nothing like it is now" when he first started.

“It feels great, that’s what it’s all about, inspiring the next generation, even when I was a child, climbing was just a small sport," he said.

"To see the exponential growth it’s getting is really really cool. Even in the UK, the amount of gyms that are opening up, it’s amazing to see and I’m sure it’s just going to get bigger and bigger.

“Climbing is absolutely a sport for everyone, whether you’re older, whether you’re younger, it’s an incredibly unique sport.

"People can excel in climbing no matter your body type, no matter your age, no matter your gender, it’s such a versatile sport.”

discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer

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