Rei Sugimoto

Rei Sugimoto (杉本 怜, Sugimoto Rei, born November 13, 1991) is a Japanese professional rock climber, specializing in competition climbing.

Climbing career Competition climbing

Sugimoto started competing on the IFSC Climbing World Cup circuit in 2009.

In 2011, Sugimoto reached his first bouldering final at the Vail World Cup, placing fourth.

In 2012, Sugimoto was a finalist in three of the six Bouldering World Cups. He rounded out the 2012 season by finishing sixth at the World Championships in Paris.

In 2013, Sugimoto won his first Bouldering World Cup in Munich.

In 2015, Sugimoto won the silver medal in the bouldering discipline at the Asian Championships held in Ningbo.

In 2017, he won the silver medal at the bouldering World Cup in Navi Mumbai.

In 2018, he won the bronze medal at the bouldering World Cup in Hachioji and won his second career World Cup gold medal later in Vail. He won the silver medal in the combined event at the 2018 Asian Championships held in Kurayoshi.

In 2019, Sugimoto won the bronze medal at the Bouldering World Cup in Meiringen. In 2021, he did not advance to the finals at the Bouldering World Cups. In 2023, he competed at the Hachioji Bouldering World Cup but did not advance past the qualification round.

In 2025, Sugimoto placed third in his final Boulder Japan Cup, successfully returning to Japan's national team after 2 years. He reached the finals at the 2025 Salt Lake City World Cup, placing eighth in the final World Cup event of his career.

Rankings Climbing World Cup Discipline 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 Bouldering 67 37 28 7 10 23 9 34 6 3 11 17

Climbing World Championships Discipline 2009 2012 2014 2018 2019 2025 Bouldering 23 6 18 27 7 33 Lead – – – 73 – – Speed – – – 47 – – Combined – – – 31 – –

Japan Cup Discipline 20092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025 Bouldering 3 - 12 6 4 2 1 2 4 6 5 8 7 - 8 18 3