Colin Duffy has qualified for Tokyo 2020 after leading an American podium sweep in the men's combined event at the Pan American Sport Climbing Championships ©IFSC

American teenager Colin Duffy earned a ticket to this year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo after coming out on top in the men’s combined standings at the Pan American Sport Climbing Championships in Los Angeles.

Competing last in the decisive lead part of the event, the 16-year-old topped the route and sealed a crucial first place in both the discipline and combined rankings at Sender One Climbing Gym.

He finished on 10 points overall, six clear of compatriot Zach Galla.

Completing a United States podium sweep was Zander Waller, leader of the event up to the lead discipline before sliding down to third place on 18 points.

Duffy is the fourth American sport climber to earn a place at Tokyo 2020, adding his name to those of Nathaniel Coleman, Kyra Condie and Brooke Raboutou.

It means the US is the only country, alongside Japan, to have four representatives in the sport at Tokyo 2020, where sport climbing is set to make its Olympic debut. 

"I’m pretty excited," Duffy said.

"It’s not really sunk in yet, but it’s amazing.

"I kind of knew the circumstances and realised that 'oh, I have to climb fast', so I tried to cruise my way through it.

"I’d like to thank my parents, my climbing team back in Boulder, Co, the whole US team and anyone who supported me up to this point."

The combined event started with the speed discipline and saw Galla take top spot in a faulty final against Ecuador’s Carlos Granja.

Ecuador’s second finalist, Danny Valencia, placed third after beating Brazil's Cesar Grosso.

In the bottom half of the table, Duffy and fellow 16-year-old Waller finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively, while Mexico’s José Ramon Santos Buhl won the duel for seventh spot against the fourth American finalist, Sean Bailey.

The US absolutely dominated the following bouldering round, with all four climbers closing with 3T3Z and only being separated by a different number of attempts.

Waller eventually claimed first place, followed by Duffy, Bailey and Galla.

Granja and Valencia followed in fifth and sixth position, both with 1T3Z, while Grosso and Santos Buhl both collected 0T2Z and placed seventh and eighth.

It was Duffy who had the last laugh as he won the lead discipline ahead of Bailey and Waller to clinch overall victory.