Despite her young age, Oriane Bertone presents herself as a real chance of a climbing medal for France.
Oriane Bertone was born in Nice on March 10, 2005. But it was on the island of La Réunion that she grew up, with her twin sister Margot. And it was there that she discovered climbing during a camp at a recreation center. It was love at first sight for young Oriane, who never took off her climbing shoes again as she quickly demonstrated a rare talent for this discipline. Just a few months after starting to climb, Oriane Bertone managed to complete her first 7B boulder at the age of 8 and was competing with adults.
In climbing, the more difficult the route, the higher the number associated with it. This goes from 1 (the easiest) to 9 (the hardest). For greater precision, climbers also assign letters (between A and C) according to the difficulty. Oriane Bertone immediately displayed a level worthy of the best in the world and succeeded at the age of 9 on an 8A boulder in South Africa. At the age of 12, she managed to pass a level 8B+ route, gleaning a world record for precocity at the time. Such performances, whether indoors or on a cliff, obviously do not go unnoticed.
At 17, after the Covid-19 episode, the Niçoise decided to join the Pôle France in Fontainebleau to take advantage of the high-level infrastructure and move up a gear with a view to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Bronze medalist at the European Championships in 2022 in bouldering, she then won silver in bouldering at the World Championships in 2023 in Switzerland, before winning her first World Cup stage in bouldering, in Prague. A first for a Frenchwoman since 2007, who was also French champion in bouldering in 2023 and 2024.
What is Oriane Bertone’s track record?
At just 19 years old, Oriane Bertone has already accomplished great things in climbing, whether in bouldering or difficulty climbing. Triple French champion in the youth category (two titles in 2019 and one in 2020), she repeated the feat in the senior category with two titles in 2023 and 2024. At the international level, in the senior category, she has seven medals at World Cup stages (6 silver and 1 gold, in 2023, each time in bouldering). Bronze medalist at the European Championships in 2022 in bouldering, she also won silver in bouldering at the World Championships in 2023 in Switzerland before winning the European qualifying tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Laval. In the youth category, she became European and world champion in bouldering and difficulty climbing (2019).
How is Oriane Bertone handling the pressure before the Paris 2024 Olympics?
In the spotlight in France since her Olympic qualification was made official, Oriane Bertone has to manage new pressure, increased by the new craze for climbing in France. Her manager, Thomas Laporte, and Nicolas Januel, coach of the French team, have had to calm things down in the media after numerous requests. Oriane Bertone remains confident in view of the Games. “Yes, even if I know that the pressure, at home, will be colossal. But I’m not afraid of it… well, for now! Plus, there might be a crazy crowd! (…) Until not long ago, it was more of a dream than a goal because I didn’t have the level,” she admitted honestly. But it’s getting closer and now, I think I have the level.”