Team Momentum Athlete Nathaniel Coleman Takes Second Place at IFSC World University Championships in

SALT LAKE CITY - Oct. 26, 2016 - PRLog -- Momentum ™ Indoor Climbing (https://www.momentumclimbing.com/) announces that Team Momentum athlete and current USA Climbing's Bouldering Open National and Youth Bouldering National Champion Nathaniel Coleman, 19, finished in second place when he represented the United States at the inaugural International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World University Championships. The competition was held in Shanghai, China on October 12-16.

Earlier this year, Coleman placed second at the 2016 Psico Bloc Masters competition, a deep-water soloing event that attracts the most elite climbers in the world to Park City, Utah. In 2015, Coleman finished fourth overall in the IFSC Bouldering World Cup standings. In 2012, 2014, and 2015 Coleman took home gold medals from the USA Climbing Youth Bouldering Nationals. He won USA Climbing's 2015 Youth Sport Nationals. On November 5, Coleman will compete in Momentum's Pro-Lo competition at Momentum Indoor Climbing in Lehi.

In August the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved the sport of climbing to be included in the 2020 Olympics Games. Olympic climbing will include a combination of three disciplines: sport, bouldering, and 15-meter speed. Coleman's competition results make him one of the top contenders to represent the U.S. in Tokyo. As one of the only gyms in the U.S. equipped with a 15-meter speed wall, Momentum expects ever-increasing interest in its Millcreek, Utah facility. In 2017, Momentum will introduce another 15-meter speed wall at its Katy, Texas facility.

"On behalf of everyone at Momentum Indoor Climbing, I want to congratulate Nathaniel on another incredible climbing performance. Nathaniel's journey, starting with the beginning of his training at age 8, to his current position as a possible Olympic contender, has been remarkable," said Jeff Pedersen, Momentum CEO and co-founder, who was also one of Coleman's first coaches. "This year has been a picture-perfect way for him to complete his youth career. Everyone at Momentum is eager to follow his next chapter of climbing."

Although Coleman "aged out" of the youth program this past spring, he believes the strong coaching he has received over the years at Momentum helped to build a solid foundation for him to grow and is at the root for his climbing achievements. Early in his progression, Coleman trained with Jeff Pedersen, CEO and founder of Momentum Indoor Climbing. Later, he trained with coaches Noah Bigwood and Kyle O'Meara.

"I owe much of what I have achieved in climbing to Momentum and I can't thank them enough for all that they have done for me. Momentum has sponsored me, coached me and many people at Momentum have become great friends of mine," said Coleman. "Along with Momentum, I want to thank the University of Utah, USA Climbing and my parents. During the World University Championships, I felt their support like never before."

Coleman started his climbing career when he joined Team Momentum in 2008. This past summer, Momentum's youth climbing team placed second in the Sport Climbing category of the 2016 USA Climbing Sport & Speed Youth National Championships. Momentum's youth program, which includes over 600 kids in recreational clubs and over 40 on the competitive team, is one of the largest in the nation. Kids from ages 3 to 19 can participate in a variety of programs depending on their age and experience.

"Momentum's youth climbing program helps kids prepare for the game of life. From problem solving to long-term goal setting, climbing offers young people an opportunity to develop traits that are easily transferrable to college and the workplace," said O'Meara. "As Nathaniel ages out of youth competition and starts to coach, he will be in a perfect position to inspire and mentor new generations of climbers."

Coleman currently is a sophomore at the University of Utah majoring in computer science.

For more information on Momentum's youth program or its gyms, please visit www.momentumclimbing.com.

About Momentum Indoor Climbing

For the last decade, Momentum™ Indoor Climbing (https://www.momentumclimbing.com/) has been developing inspiring climbing gyms to serve local communities. Based in Salt Lake City, the Momentum brand is fueled by a passion to evolve and share the sport of rock climbing through timeless wall designs, modern training facilities, programs and amenities that enhance the indoor climbing experience. Momentum is committed to building better climbers and cultivating lasting communities. For more information about Momentum, visit www.momentumclimbing.com or connect with Momentum on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MomentumClimbing/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/momentumclimbing/?hl=en), Twitter (https://twitter.com/MomentumClimb) and Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/user17568891).