Natalia Grossman claimed her eighth IFSC World Cup gold medal today ©Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC

American Natalia Grossman claimed her fifth consecutive and eighth career gold medal in boulder on the latest leg of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup in Innsbruck.

The victory means Grossman is the overall 2022 Boulder World Cup champion, and becomes one of only four women to have won five or more World Cups within a single season. 

With the pressure on to make it to the top on a tricky final section at the Kletterzentrum, the 21-year-old and defending boulder World Cup champion made it four summits reached from four, beating Germany's Hannah Meul, who achieved the same feat with a dogged final round.

Grossman took gold by virtue of less attempts, managing to make the top four times from five attempts, compared to Meul's seven.

Natalia Grossman, centre, became the overall women's Boulder World Cup champion after her victory in Innsbruck ©Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC
Natalia Grossman, centre, became the overall women's Boulder World Cup champion after her victory in Innsbruck ©Dimitris Tosidis/IFSC

Miho Nonaka of Japan claimed the bronze medal by reaching the top on two occasions, assisted by her compatriot Futaba Ito and South Korea's Seo Chae-hyun's failure to reach the top in their last round.

They finished fourth and fifth respectively, while Saki Kikuchi from Japan was sixth.

The IFSC World Cup continues tomorrow with men's and women's lead events scheduled.