Samuel Watson of the United States lowered the men's speed climbing world record twice at the 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup here on Friday, clocking 4.79 seconds in the qualifications, reported Xinhua.
18-year-old Watson clocked 4.85 in the first run, improving the previous record of 4.90 set by Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia at the World Cup in Seoul, South Korea last April.
Just 36 minutes later, Watson showcased even better form in the second run to go another 0.06 seconds faster in front of a hyped crowd at the Foho Cultural and Sports Center in Wujiang, east China's Jiangsu Province.
"I'm so excited to be here at the first World Cup of the season in Wujiang," said Watson. "It's an awesome venue, awesome environment, and the training paid off."
Having already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games by securing gold at the 2023 Pan American Games, Watson admitted that he came to Wujiang with the goal of breaking the world record.
"I've done it a couple of times in practice and I thought it was finally time. I was just a couple of hundredths of a second off from doing it last year. Very happy to actually complete the run and get it this year," Watson noted.
Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, Watson set his goal at 4.50 seconds, adding, "I will keep doing what I'm doing, go to these competitions, learn from my mistakes and do the best I can."
Wu Peng set China's new national record of 4.90 seconds, 0.08 faster than Cao Long's previous record set last year.
"I had never climbed this fast in practice," said an excited Wu. "My best outcome was 4.99, so I'm really happy with the result today. But I think I can still be faster."
His coach Zhang Yanli said, "Wu always did better in competitions than in practice. He strengthened his physical strength and slightly adjusted some moves during the winter training camp."
A total of six male and six female Chinese climbers qualified for the speed finals scheduled for Saturday.
The men's and women's lead qualifications also took place on Friday, with China's Luo Zhilu and Zhang Yuetong advancing into the women's semifinals.
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
Watson’s achievement in lowering the men’s speed climbing world record twice is truly remarkable. It’s inspiring to see such dedication and determination paying off. I admire his focus and persistence in pursuing his goals. Looking forward to witnessing more groundbreaking performances from him in the future!
Samuel Watson’s achievement is truly remarkable! He showcased incredible speed climbing skills and determination to break the world record not just once, but twice in a single event. It’s inspiring to see young athletes like him pushing the limits and setting new standards in the sport. Congratulations to Watson on this well-deserved accomplishment!
Wow, Watson’s achievements are truly remarkable! It’s amazing to see such young talent breaking world records. I’m sure he will continue to impress us in the upcoming Paris Olympics. Keep up the great work, Watson!
I am amazed by Samuel Watson’s incredible achievement in lowering the men’s speed climbing world record twice at the 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup! His determination and hard work truly paid off. Such an inspiring performance!
Wow, such an impressive achievement by Samuel Watson! Do you think he will be able to reach his goal of 4.50 seconds at the Paris Olympics?
Yes, Samuel Watson’s determination and skill are truly remarkable. I believe with his dedication, he has a strong chance of achieving his goal of 4.50 seconds at the Paris Olympics.
Samuel Watson did an amazing job breaking the men’s speed climbing world record not just once, but twice! His determination and hard work paid off, and I’m sure he will continue to impress at the upcoming Paris Olympics. Way to go, Watson!
Watson’s achievement is truly impressive! It’s inspiring to see athletes pushing boundaries and setting new records. Can’t wait to see what he accomplishes next!
Watson’s outstanding performance is truly remarkable! It’s inspiring to see him break the world record not just once, but twice in a single competition. His dedication and focus on achieving his goals are admirable. Looking forward to seeing him shine at the Paris Olympics!
Do you know if Watson’s training regimen has changed significantly since the last record-breaking event?
Hi EmilyJohnson! From Watson’s statement, it seems that his training regimen has stayed consistent with focus on competitions and learning from mistakes to improve. He mentioned that the training had paid off, indicating that his approach is working effectively.
Watson showcased incredible speed and determination in setting the new world record. It’s amazing to see athletes pushing boundaries and achieving greatness!