Ao Yurikusa (百合草 碧皇, Yurikusa Ao, born September 21, 2002) is a Japanese professional rock climber, specializing in competition climbing.

Ao Yurikusa
Personal information
NationalityJapanese
Born (2002-09-21) September 21, 2002 (age 23)
Aichi, Japan
OccupationProfessional sport climber
Height175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Climbing career
Type of climber
Highest grade
Medal record
Men's competition climbing
Representing  Japan
World Cup
Gold medal – first placeJakarta 2022Lead
Silver medal – second placeInnsbruck 2022Lead
Asian Cup
Gold medal – first placeAlmaty 2025Lead

Climbing career

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Competition climbing

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In August 2019, Yurikusa won the gold medals in the boulder and combined disciplines at the World Youth Championships in Arco.[1] He also claimed the silver medal in the boulder discipline at the 2019 Asian Youth Championships.[2]

The 2022 season saw Yurikusa win multiple Lead World Cup medals — silver at the Innsbruck Lead World Cup and his first World Cup gold medal in Jakarta.[3][4] Yurikusa finished the season in 4th place in the overall Lead World Cup ranking.[5]

In 2023, Yurikusa was a finalist at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships, placing 5th in Lead.[6]

In 2025, Yurikusa won the Lead gold medal at the 2025 Asian Cup held in Almaty.[7]

Rankings

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Discipline[8] 2021 2022 2023 2024
Lead 22 4 12 11

World Championships

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Discipline Bern 2023
Lead 5
Bouldering 49
Boulder & Lead 10
Discipline 2019
Youth A
[9]
Lead 4
Bouldering 1
Combined 1

References

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