Mourning in the sports world: climber killed at 30
American climber Jake Wizenent was known primarily for his speed climbs on some of the most challenging routes in Yosemite National Park. The athlete held a series of remarkable climbing achievements.
American climber Jake Wizenent was killed last week in a climbing accident at the age of 30. Wizenent was known primarily for his speed climbs on some of the most famous and challenging routes in Yosemite National Park in California.
Wizenent died on August 2 in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks area in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The U.S. National Park Service launched a search and rescue operation, and his death was confirmed the following day.
The American climber held a series of achievements, including breaking the speed record on the 'Lurking Fear' route on El Capitan, the massive granite cliff that has become one of the most famous climbing sites in the world. Last May, he completed another extraordinary feat when he and his partner climbed 'The Nose' — the route that scales the face of the cliff — twice in a single day.
According to the Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the cause of death is currently classified as an accident. Bailey Moore, a childhood friend of Wizenent, told NBC News and the news site SFGATE that he was killed after falling during the climb, while his family is still trying to understand exactly what happened. As of now, no details have been released regarding the height of the fall or what led to it, nor is it known if there was a malfunction in his climbing equipment.
