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← See today's latestSpeed climbing's format evolves, records tumble in Kraków
Four-lane format debut
Speed climbing just got a fresh competitive stage.
The World Climbing Series in Kraków introduced a new four-lane format for the first time, replacing the traditional head-to-head bracket [Quelle: IFSC]. The change opens up the format visually and tactically, letting judges see more simultaneous climbing and adding complexity to race strategy. Whether this becomes the standard for future events will shape how speed athletes train.
Watch the federation's next moves on format standardization.
Watson's dominant debut
Samuel Watson took gold in the men's speed final with a lifetime best.
The American clocked 4.60 seconds in Kraków's inaugural four-lane format, beating world record holder Zhao Yicheng of China in a decisive performance [Quelle: IFSC]. The time signals Watson is closing the gap to Yicheng's 4.48-second world record. This win positions him as a genuine contender heading into Olympic qualification season.
Expect faster times as athletes adapt to the new setup.
Hunt breaks the six-second ceiling
Emma Hunt just entered a very small club.
The American became the first woman ever to climb the speed route in under six seconds, posting 5.99 during the quarter-finals [Quelle: IFSC]. Though she finished with bronze in the medal race, that split marks a watershed moment for women's speed climbing. The barrier that once felt insurmountable is now in the crosshairs for the next generation of competitors.
Kusuma Dewi's gold (6.54) shows the field is tightening across the top ranks.
HUNT MAKES HISTORY, WATSON AND KUSUMA DEWI TAKE ...9 hours ago ... The result also marked a bittersweet farewell for Mirosław, who had previously announced that Kraków would be her final World Climbing international competition ...ifsc-climbing.org