Dmitri Sarafutdinov

Dmitri started climbing when he was six years old and trained in a small climbing gym in Korkino.

In 2002 he started competing in the youth speed and lead disciplines. In 2002 he won the bronze medal in speed Youth A at the World Youth Championship in Canteleu, France[6] and in 2004 he won the bronze medal in lead Junior at the World Youth Championship in Edinburgh.[7]

In 2003 he began competing in the senior categories, in lead, speed and bouldering disciplines and in 2004 he won the Russian Climbing Championship in bouldering.[8] From 2007 he focused on bouldering where he achieved his greatest success.

On 24 April 2007 Dmitri took his first podium in the Bouldering World Cup placing second in Sofia,[9] and on 23 June he gained his first victory at Fiera di Primiero, Italy.[10] He ended the season in second place behind Kilian Fischhuber.[11] In the same year he won his first gold medal at the World Championships in Avilés, Spain.[2]

In 2011 he achieved five podiums and the final second place in the Bouldering World Cup[12] and his second gold medal at the World Championships in Arco, Italy.[3] In 2012 he won his third World Championships, in Paris.[4]

On July 2012 he climbed his hardest route, the 9a+ (5.15a) Ali-Hulk extension in Rodellar, Spain. The route consists in a boulder (climbed without rope) and a sport climbing route linked together.[13]

In 2013 he has won his first Bouldering World Cup title, with two wins, one second and two podiums finishes out of eight events.[5]