SALT LAKE CITY — Athletes with Team USA are looking to have a strong showing in sport climbing at the 2024 Olympics, thanks in part to a unique training facility in Utah.
USA Climbing used to be in Boulder, but they moved to Salt Lake City so they could afford more space to train.
That space turned out to be a big warehouse in Salt Lake City's Granary District, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods. It's not exactly the type of place you would expect to find elite athletes training for the Olympics, but it's a spot that's helped Team USA get ready for Paris.
Head coach Josh Larson said their official training center may be an old run-down warehouse, but he likes it.
"I like the warehouse because it has a bit of grit — maybe a lot of grit," Larson said.
The athletes will tell you it doesn't look like much, but it has what they need. The facility is a big part of the team's recent success and training for the Paris Olympics.
And while it doesn't have heat or air conditioning, it does have a lot of space for climbing walls and gyms.
Larson said it's the perfect place to bring climbing back to its roots.
"Do you know the roots of climbing go back to, like, people are climbing in their garages," he said.
After several years in that warehouse, U.S. Climbing is looking at building a new facility in downtown Salt Lake. But that's years down the road.
Olympic climbing starts on Aug. 5.