The ceiling for female bouldering just got pushed a little higher. On March 28, 2026, 28-year-old Czech climber Jana Švecová claimed the first ascent of Tokyo Drift, proposing a staggering grade of V15 (8C). Located at the Holštejn crag (Lidomorna) in the Moravian Karst, Czech Republic, this ascent cements Švecová's position as one of the strongest boulderers on the planet.
The Battle for Tokyo Drift
Tokyo Drift is a direct, incredibly powerful variation of Adam Ondra's 2018 boulder, Drift (8C). Švecová first started projecting the line in April 2025 as a side project to her ultimate goal, Ondra's legendary Terranova. After battling a series of finger injuries over the year, she returned to the Moravian Karst in late March 2026 to reacquaint herself with the moves.
Conditions on the day of the send were far from forgiving. Fighting through extreme wind and a biting temperature of just 5°C (41°F)—which Švecová described as "almost unimaginable" for her to climb in—she locked into a massive fight on the wall.
"Today was the best day of my climbing career. The send was so unexpected, not because I wouldn't be close in terms of high point, but because of the conditions and other circumstances... I had to readjust most of the holds and even had a foot slip, but the desire to send this boulder this go, this session was bigger than any slip and wrongly hit hold. It just worked… well, it was kinda drama at the end, I was emotional."
— Jana Švecová
Rewriting Climbing History
Establishing Tokyo Drift is a monumental achievement in the sport. With this send, Švecová joins an elite group of only three women globally—alongside Janja Garnbret and Katie Lamb—who have climbed multiple V15s.
More significantly, Tokyo Drift likely stands as the hardest First Ascent (FA) ever established by a woman. While Švecová previously claimed the FA of Nova in 2023 (which she graded V14 before Will Bosi repeated it and upgraded it to V15), Tokyo Drift marks a definitive, confident V15 (8C) FA proposal straight out of the gate.
What's Next: The Road to Terranova
For Švecová, the work doesn't stop here. Sending Tokyo Drift was a calculated, successful step in her broader training plan. The boulder's crimpy, long, and powerful style serves as the perfect physical and mental preparation for her ultimate mega-project: claiming the first repetition of Adam Ondra's notoriously brutal V16 (8C+), Terranova.
If her relentless progression and staggering finger strength are any indication, the climbing world should be watching the Moravian Karst very closely this season.
