Oceania Mackenzie has scaled new Olympic heights for Australia, hauling herself into bruising contention for the country's first medal in sport climbing before her soaring hopes finally fell to earth in Paris.
The 22-year-old Melburnian, who had never made a podium in any World Cup event, found herself in rarefied air when she actually clambered into the bronze medal position in the bouldering and lead combined final at halfway on Saturday.
