Annie Sanders
{{short description|American rock climber}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox climber
|name=Annie Sanders
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2007|07|22}}
|nationality=American
|birth_place=Fort Worth, Texas
|image= Annie Sanders Prague (cropped).jpg
|caption= Sanders at 2025 Prague World Cup
|highestgrade={{climbing grade|5.14a}} (flash){{Cite news |last=Delaney |first=Miller |date=October 28, 2021 |title=14-Year-Old American Wins Worlds, Then Flashes 5.14a |url=https://www.climbing.com/news/annie-sanders-wins-worlds-flashes-5-14a/ |access-date=November 13, 2022 |work=Climbing}}
|typeofclimber={{flatlist|
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Women's competition climbing}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | World Cup }}
{{Medal|Gold | Keqiao 2025 | Bouldering }}
{{Medal|Gold | Seoul 2024 | Bouldering }}
{{Medal|Silver | Bern 2025 | Bouldering }}
{{Medal|Bronze | Salt Lake City 2025 | Bouldering }}
{{Medal|Bronze | Wujiang 2025 | Lead }}
{{Medal|Bronze | Seoul 2024 | Lead }}
{{Medal|Bronze | Koper 2024 | Lead }}
{{Medal|Bronze | 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.{{cite web |title=14‑Year‑Old American Wins Worlds, Then Flashes 5.14a |last=Delaney |first=Miller |website=Climbing Magazine |date=2021-10-28 |url=https://www.climbing.com/news/annie-sanders-wins-worlds-flashes-5-14a/ |access-date=2025-06-07}} 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.{{cite web |title=Anastasia Sanders on fire in the Red |website=Climber Magazine |date=2021-10-20 |url=https://www.climber.co.uk/news/anastasia-sanders-on-fire-in-the-red/ |access-date=2025-06-07}}
Early life
Sanders was born 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.{{cite web |title=North Texas Teen Climber Sets Sights on 2028 Olympics |url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-teen-climber-sets-sights-on-2028-olympics/3845202/ |website=NBC DFW |access-date=2025-06-10 |date=February 16, 2024}}{{cite web |title=At just 15, Mansfield teen Annie Sanders wins USA Climbing National Team Trials |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/dfwvarsity/article279643844.html |website=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |access-date=2025-06-10 |date=March 5, 2024}}
Climbing career
Transitioning to senior competition, Sanders reached finals at Salt Lake City (4th) and Seoul (5th) during the 2023 IFSC World Cup season.{{cite web |title=Team USA’s Annie Sanders Wins First World Cup of the Year |website=Gripped |last=Pardy |first=Aaron |date=2023 |url=https://gripped.com/indoor-climbing/team-usas-annie-sanders-wins-first-world-cup-of-the-year |access-date=2025-06-07}} She continued her meteoric rise in 2024, claiming her first Boulder World Cup victory in Seoul with three tops and four zones in finals.{{cite web |title=Sanders Claims First Win and Golden Lee Pleases Seoul Crowd |website=IFSC |date=2024-10-08 |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/sanders-claims-first-win-and-golden-lee-pleases-seoul-crowd |access-date=2025-06-07}}{{cite web |title=USA Wins 2 Medals and 2 Series Titles at World Cup Seoul 2024 |website=USA Climbing |date=2024-10-07 |url=https://usaclimbing.org/news/usa-wins-two-medals-at-world-cup-seoul-2024 |access-date=2025-06-07}} That season included podium finishes in Lead—Bronze medals in Koper and Seoul—and a 4th-place overall in Boulder World Cup standings.{{cite web |title=USA Wins 2 Medals and 2 Series Titles at World Cup Seoul 2024 |website=USA Climbing |date=2024-10-07 |url=https://usaclimbing.org/news/usa-wins-two-medals-at-world-cup-seoul-2024 |access-date=2025-06-07}}
=National titles=
- 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.{{cite news |title=At just 15, Mansfield teen Annie Sanders wins USA Climbing National Team Trials |url=https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/dfwvarsity/article279643844.html |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram |date=March 5, 2024 |access-date=2025-06-10}}
=2021 World Cup Season=
In 2021, Sanders won gold medals in the bouldering, lead, and combined bouldering and lead events at the IFSC Climbing World Youth Championships.{{Cite news |date=August 31, 2021 |title=USA's Anastasia Sanders Shines With Three Gold Medals at 2021 IFSC Youth World Championships |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/index.php/news/594-usa-s-anastasia-sanders-shines-with-three-gold-medals-at-2021-ifsc-youth-world-championships |access-date=2023-01-03 |publisher=International Federation of Sport Climbing}}
=2022 World Cup Season=
In 2022, Sanders repeated as Youth World Champion in bouldering.{{cite news |date=August 25, 2022 |title=DOUBLE DALLAS DELIGHT FOR USA AT YOUTH WORLDS |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/index.php/news/811-double-dallas-delight-for-usa-at-youth-worlds |access-date=April 14, 2023 |publisher=International Federation of Sport Climbing}} She won the USA Climbing National Championships in both bouldering and lead, her first senior competition at age 15.{{Cite news |last=Pardy |first=Aaron |date=November 14, 2022 |title=USA Lead Climbing National Champions Crowned in Colorado |url=https://gripped.com/indoor-climbing/usa-lead-climbing-national-champions-crowned-in-colorado/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |work=Gripped |language=en-US}}{{cite news |last=Burgman |first=John |title=Newcomers Make Big Statements at US National Championships |url=https://www.climbing.com/gym-climbing/gym-news/2022-us-national-championships-results/?pianouser=true |access-date=April 14, 2023 |work=Climbing |date=November 14, 2022}}
=2023 World Cup Season=
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.{{cite news |last1=Pardy |first1=Aaron |title=15-Year-Old Wins USA Climbing Women's National Team Trials |url=https://gripped.com/indoor-climbing/15-year-old-wins-usa-climbing-womens-national-team-trials/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |work=Gripped |date=March 4, 2023}}. 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.{{Cite web |last=Burgman |first=John |date=2023-08-14 |title=Colin Duffy Qualifies for the Paris Olympics; World Championships Results, Recap, Highs and Lows |url=https://www.climbing.com/news/colin-duffy-qualifies-for-the-paris-olympics-world-championships-results-recap/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=Climbing |language=en-US}}
=2024 World Cup Season=
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.{{Cite web |last=Vettoretti |first=Marco |date=2024-06-27 |title=Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/garnbret-takes-emotional-win-teenagers-buckley-and-sanders-complete-the-podium |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.ifsc-climbing.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Aspland |first=Richard |date=2024-09-07 |title=Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/olympic-champions-do-it-again-in-koper |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.ifsc-climbing.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Aspland |first=Richard |date=2024-10-03 |title=Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/sanders-claims-first-win-and-golden-lee-pleases-seoul-crowd |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.ifsc-climbing.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Aspland |first=Richard |date=2024-10-06 |title=Official website of the International Federation of Sport Climbing. |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/news/pilz-does-the-lead-double-as-anraku-returns-to-winning-ways |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=www.ifsc-climbing.org |language=en}}
=2025 World Cup Season=
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{{cite web |title=Sanders Wins Gold at World Cup Keqiao 2025 |website=USA Climbing |date=2025-04-21 |url=https://usaclimbing.org/news/sanders-wins-gold-at-world-cup-keqiao-2025 |access-date=2025-06-07}}. and a silver in Bern. {{cite web |title= Low scores, late drama in women’s boulder semi-final. |website=IFSC |date=2025-04-21 |url=https://www.ifsc-climbing.org/events/ifsc-world-cup-bern-2025/news/low-scores-late-drama-in-women-s-boulder-semi-final |access-date=2025-06-18}}
Sanders was described by the Olympics as a “teenage sensation” after securing a silver medal with a score of 84.4 points, finishing behind Great Britain’s Erin McNeice.{{cite web |title=Sport Climbing World Cup Bern 2025: Erin McNeice wins first boulder gold |website=Olympics |date=2025-04-21 |url=https://www.olympics.com/en/news/sport-climbing-world-cup-bern-2025-erin-mcneice-wins-first-boulder-gold |access-date=2025-06-18}}
World Cup Results
=IFSC World Cup Medals=
Bouldering
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| width = "55" | Season
! width = "55" style="background: gold;" | Gold ! width = "55" style="background: silver;"| Silver ! width = "55" style="background: #cc9966;"| Bronze ! width = "55" | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Total | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Lead
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | ||||
| width = "55" | Season
! width = "55" style="background: gold;" | Gold ! width = "55" style="background: silver;"| Silver ! width = "55" style="background: #cc9966;"| Bronze ! width = "55" | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2025 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
= IFSC World Cup Podiums =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Event !! City !! Discipline !! Rank | ||||
| 2025 | IFSC World Cup | Bern, Switzerland | Boulder | style="background: silver;"| 2nd |
| 2025 | IFSC World Cup | Salt Lake City, USA | Boulder | style="background:#c96;"| 3rd |
| 2025 | IFSC World Cup | Wujiang, CHN | Boulder | style="background:#c96;"| 3rd |
| 2025 | IFSC World Cup | Keqiao, CHN | Boulder | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
| 2024 | IFSC World Cup | Seoul | Boulder | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
| 2024 | IFSC World Cup | Seoul | Lead | style="background:#c96;"| 3rd |
| 2024 | IFSC World Cup | Koper | Boulder | style="background:#c96;"| 3rd |
| 2024 | IFSC World Cup | Innsbruck | Boulder | style="background:#c96;"| 3rd |
= IFSC Youth World Cup Podiums =
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year !! Event !! City !! Discipline !! Rank | ||||
| 2022 | IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships | Dallas, USA | Boulder | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
| 2021 | IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships | Voronezh, Russia | Lead | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
| 2021 | IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships | Voronezh, Russia | Boulder | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
| 2021 | IFSC Climbing Youth World Championships | Voronezh, Russia | Combined | style="background:gold;"| 1st |
Notable ascents
Sanders has made several outdoor ascents of sport climbing routes at grade {{climbing grade|5.13}} or higher in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky, including a flash of Omaha Beach at {{climbing grade|5.14a}}, in October 2021.
= [[Redpoint (climbing)|Redpointed routes]] =
{{climbing grade|5.14a}}
- Omaha Beach, Red River Gorge, flashed, October 2021{{Cite news |title=Anastasia Sanders on fire in the Red {{!}} Climber Magazine |url=https://www.climber.co.uk/news/anastasia-sanders-on-fire-in-the-red/ |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=climber.co.uk |date=October 20, 2021|language=en}}
- God's Own Throne, Red River Gorge, October 2020{{cite news |last1=Walker |first1=Noah |title=American Annie Sanders Wins Three Gold Medals |url=https://gripped.com/indoor-climbing/american-annie-sanders-wins-three-gold-medals/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |work=Gripped |date=August 31, 2021}}
{{climbing grade|5.13c}}
Personal life
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.{{cite web |title=15-Year-Old Fort Worth Climber Is Making Her Mark |url=https://www.aol.com/15-old-fort-worth-making-224941897.html |website=AOL |access-date=2025-06-10 |date=February 20, 2024}}{{cite web |title=15-Year-Old Fort Worth Climber Is Making Her Mark |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/15-old-fort-worth-making-224941764.html |website=Yahoo News |access-date=2025-06-10 |date=February 20, 2024}} The arrangement has allowed her to travel for international competitions and USA Climbing events, including senior-level tournaments, while maintaining her academic progress.
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Instagram}}
- {{IFSC profile}}
- [https://usac.us.to/climber/29243161 USA Climbing results]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Annie}}
Category:Sportspeople from Fort Worth, Texas
Category:American rock climbers
Category:American female climbers
Category:21st-century American sportswomen