François Petit

François Petit is a French professional rock climber, born on 27 March 1975, who specialised in competition climbing. He is known for winning the Lead Climbing World Championship in 1997 and the Lead Climbing World Cup in 1995 and 1999. Born in Albertville, near the Vanoise National Park, he started climbing as a child, encouraged by his parents, and shared the sport with his older brother Arnaud Petit, the 1996 Lead Climbing World Cup winner. He climbed single-pitch routes up to 8c+ (5.14c) but focused mainly on indoor climbing, retired from international competition in 2004, has trained the French bouldering team since 2010 and directs Le Mur de Lyon, one of the largest indoor climbing gyms in France.