Two Bend climbers make USA national bouldering team

(Update: Adding video, comments)

Two young Bend climbers made the podium — and Team USA — at the USA Climbing Bouldering National Championships this weekend at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond.

Mira Capicchioni, 13, took first place in her category at the indoor climbing event, which will make its Olympics debut at the Tokyo Games next year. She will be moving on to compete in the Youth World Championships in Arco, Italy in August.

“I was so excited,” Capicchioni said smiling after the medal ceremony. “I’ve been like training for this all season, and it made me so happy.”

Capicchioni is an eighth-grader at Cascade Middle School.

Nathaniel Perullo, 10, finished second in his category. He is a fifth-grader at Miller Elementary School.

Both Perullo and Capicchioni have qualified for Team USA!

Here’s our livestreamed video of the awards ceremony Sunday afternoon.