Aleksandra Kalucka tops speed climbing qualification while Aspar Aspar vows to dye mohawk new colour in exchange for Paris 2024 ticket
Whether it is beating a twin sister or dying a mohawk a new colour, qualification day of speed sport climbing revealed that there is more than tickets to Paris 2024 on the line at the Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest.
Sport Climbing
Speed sport climber Natalia Kalucka finished third at the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) in Shanghai. But in the second stage, in Budapest, it was her twin sister Aleksandra who climbed ahead – for now, in qualification.
Both sisters are through to the final, Aleksandra in first place with a best time of 6.60 seconds and Natalia in fifth with 6.81.
Since Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw secured a quota to Paris 2024 earlier* and each National Olympic Committee can only take two athletes, there is only one possible spot left for the twins. While each hopes to become an Olympian, Natalia and Aleksandra also continue to support each other.
"My sister is the most important person in my life because I spent a lot of time with her," Natalia Kalucka told Olympics.com. "Now I focus on my performance, my runs, but I keep my fingers crossed for my sister."
Natalia is the highest ranked female speed climber at the Olympic Qualifier Series, a world champion and the winner of the 2023 overall speed climbing World Cup. Aleksandra won a similar batch of awards, including topping the overall World Cup, in her case in 2022.
Indonesia’s Rajiah Sallsabillah was second in qualification with a time of 6.67. Zhou Yafei, who topped the podium at the home Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, was third with 6.70.
*As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on their NOC selecting them to represent their delegation at Paris 2024.
Click here to see the official qualification system for each sport.
Amir Maimuratov on top, Aspar Aspar hoping to dye his mohawk a new colour for Paris 2024
Amir Maimuratov led the men’s competition with a best time of 4.95 seconds. The Kazakh climber will be hoping to carry this momentum into the final after finishing 11th overall in Shanghai.
Shanghai winner Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia was second, 0.01 seconds behind Maimuratov, followed by Shanghai second-place finisher Wu Peng, who qualified in third with 4.97 seconds.
Indonesia’s Aspar Aspar, who qualified in fifth, continues to dream of becoming an Olympian before he retires. He missed out on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games after rapturing a tendon in one his fingers a week before the Games.
Since fellow Indonesian Rahmad Adi Mulyono qualified earlier, Aspar will have to beat his teammate, former world record holder Leonardo to secure a quota. The task is not an easy one, but Aspar remains upbeat.
“It is hard but I hope (I can)," he said. "I know that my time is a little bit slower than his, so it is difficult, it’s going to be a challenge but as long as I am calm and focused on my goal, I think I can get it.”
Aspar has at least one advantage over Leonardo - his red mohawk.
“It is my secret weapon to go fast," Aspar said. "Every competition I try to change the colour of my hair. So, it’s a motivation for me.
“If I qualify for the Olympics I will do the flag of Indonesia.”
OQS Budapest 2024 results - Women's speed qualification - Top 16
- Aleksandra Kalucka (POL) – 6.60
- Rajiah Sallsabillah (INA) – 6.67
- Zhou Yafei (CHN) – 6.70
- Niu Di (CHN) – 6.75
- Natalia Kalucka (POL) – 6.81
- Narda Mutia Amanda (INA) – 6.82
- Capucine Viglione (FRA) – 6.92
- Nurul Iqamah (INA) – 6.951
- Zhang Shaoqin (CHN) – 6.954
- Leslie Adriana Romero Perez (ESP) – 7.09
- Wang Shengyan (CHN) – 7.10
- Manon Lebon (FRA) – 7.11
- Beatrice Colli (ITA) – 7.15
- Lison Gautron (FRA) – 7.22
- Patrycja Chudziak (POL) – 7.31
- Tamara Ulzhabayeva (KAZ) – 7.32
OQS Budapest 2024 results - Men's speed qualification - Top 16
- Amir Maimuratov (KAZ) – 4.95
- Veddriq Leonardo (INA) – 4.96
- Wu Peng (CHN) – 4.97
- Zhang Liang (CHN) – 5.00
- Aspar Aspar (INA) – 5.05
- Rishat Khaibullin (KAZ) – 5.06
- Kiromal Katibin (INA) – 5.08
- Hryhorii Ilchyshyn (UKR) – 5.09
- Zach Hammer (USA) – 5.10
- Shin Euncheol (KOR) – 5.14
- Yasukawa Jun (JPN) – 5.16
- Reza Alipour Shenazandifard (IRI) – 5.17
- Ludovico Fossali (ITA) – 5.18
- Erik Noya Cardona (ESP) – 5.19
- Long Jianguo (CHN) – 5.21
- Yaroslav Tkach (UKR) – 5.23
How to watch all the Olympic Qualifier Series action from Budapest
The action from Budapest will be streamed live, for free, and without subscription to a worldwide audience on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the official Olympics app for Paris 2024.
You can also catch up on the latest news, features, reports and updates from the ground with daily articles on Olympics.com.