The Slovenia Times

Garnbret makes Forbes list of most influential young athletes

Sport

Slovenian sport climber Janja Garnbret has made it to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in sports and games in Europe, placing alongside athletes such as NBA star Nikola Jokić, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and Formula One driver George Russel.

The magazine notes that Garnbret, 24, is the first Olympic gold medallist in sport climbing and that she has won six World Championships.

"She is the only athlete to achieve a clean sweep in World Cup bouldering - a form of free-climbing - wins in a season, and her success has won sponsorship deals with Adidas and Red Bull," Forbes writes.

Among others, the list includes alpine skier Petra Vlhova and football player Alexia Putellas, a two-time winner of both UEFA Women's Player of the Year Award and the Ballon d'Or Féminin.

The list features 12 athletes, nine entrepreneurs, four game developers, three sports business experts and two e-athletes.

"Being on such a list in the company of such individuals is of course a great honour and at the same time a responsibility," Garnbret said.

"Athletes have the power to connect, so we must direct this privilege to topics that are more than just sport and with our contribution ensure the development of the environment and society, which of course I also expect from myself," she added.

Forbes Magazine had nominated Garnbret for the list of 30 most influential young people in Europe back in 2020 and a year later the Slovenian athlete made the TIME100 Next 2021 list of emerging leaders from around the world published by Time.

As the new season of the Sport Climbing World Cup starts in April, Garnbret hopes that, despite her big toe injury, she will be able to compete in the opening events.

The highlight of the season will be the World Championship in Switzerland, which will also be the first opportunity to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024.

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