Akiyo Noguchi

Noguchi grew up on a cattle farm in the Ibaraki Prefecture. From a young age she would climb on buildings, trees and sometimes even on the cows. In 2000, when she was 11 years old, she tried a real climbing wall for the first time, during a holiday trip to Guam. Back at home she immediately joined a local climbing gym. Her father later built her a climbing wall in an old cattle barn on the farm.[1][2][3]

In 2007, she started competing in the Bouldering World Cups, reaching the podium three times. In 2009, she won the World Cup in bouldering, over the previous year's champion Anna Stöhr.[4] Noguchi repeated as champion in 2010, 2014 and 2015.[5] In the 2011, 2012 and 2013 bouldering events at the World Cup she placed second.[5] She has also won the combined climbling title at the World Cup three times.[5]

Noguchi was also awarded the La Sportiva Competition Award in 2010, "for her victories and the positive spirit she exudes during competitions".[6]

Noguchi at the World Cup in Munich, 2012.

Akiyo Noguchi is world renowned for her incredible technique and mobility. Udo Neumann, a German climbing coach, published a video of some of her best performances throughout her career, analyzing the qualities that have allowed her to excel in climbing. This video, entitled "Factors Deciding Bouldering Comps - the Art of Akiyo Noguchi,"[13] emphasizes her adaptability, which enables her to come up with unique solutions to the problems she encounters. Furthermore, her mobility allows her to do moves that elude her fellow competitors.[14] She has also gained fame on social medias, such as Instagram, where she has over 100 thousand followers.[15]

• Akiyo Noguchi in the Climbing World Cup
• IFSC Climbing World Cup
• IFSC Climbing World Championships
• IFSC Climbing Asian Championships

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Akiyo Noguchi.

• JMSC profile