KEQIAO, China, May 2 (Xinhua) -- French climber Zelia Avezou narrowly defeated double Olympic champion Janja Garnbret at the season-opening World Climbing Series event in Keqiao on Saturday, claiming the first gold medal of her career on the circuit and denying the Slovenian a milestone 50th victory.

Avezou and Garnbret were the only athletes to top the final three boulders, with the French securing victory by 0.2 points thanks to fewer attempts.

Despite the breakthrough win, the 22-year-old showed little outward emotion.

"I thought I would cry or something, but now I'm just wondering what had happened," Avezou said. "I just climbed one boulder by one. I thought the boulders were pretty easy except the first one."

She credited her efficiency as the decisive factor.

"I think focusing on your first try is important, because we never know if the boulders [afterwards] would be easy or not. Tonight I really tried to do my first attempt as best as I could."

Avezou's French teammate Oriane Bertone, a world silver medalist, was also in contention for gold before the final boulder but failed to score, slipping off the podium - a result Avezou said left her with mixed feelings.

"My teammate not getting the top got me the win. I don't really like this situation because I hope she can do her best. It's always hard not to root for your friends," she said.

Garnbret started slowly, failing to top the opening boulder and requiring multiple attempts on the next two problems, dropping as low as sixth place. She recovered on the final boulder, topping it on her first attempt to secure a place on the podium.

Heading into the competition, Garnbret had recorded 49 wins across World Climbing Series and former World Cup events, one short of the 50-win mark. She said the milestone had not weighed heavily on her.

"There was no pressure at all about the 50th win. I know that it was possible to reach it at this competition. It was somewhere at the back of my mind," Garnbret said. "But I didn't bother with it. I was just saying to myself, if it happens, it happens; if it doesn't, I have a next chance in a few days in the next stop."

Australia's Oceania Mackenzie finished third.  ■