Sport Climbing World Cup Wujiang 2024: Wu Peng and Aleksandra Miroslaw win speed titles
Wu Peng of the People’s Republic of China defeated the new world record holder, Sam Watson, to win his second IFSC Climbing World Cup speed title on home soil in Wujiang on Saturday (13 April). Two-time world champion Aleksandra Miroslaw delivered a smashing performance in the women's final, equalling her world record to take the title.
The Chinese speedster was consistently strong throughout the rounds and delivered the goods in the men’s final, pipping Watson to the top in a winning time of 4.91 seconds. USA's Watson made some mistakes in his run, touching the top in 5.11 seconds to settle for second place, while former world record holder Kiromal Katibin of Indonesia finished third after beating Ludovico Fossali of Italy in the small final.
The 18-year-old Watson lay down the gauntlet the day before by opening the speed climbing season with a bang, becoming the ‘fastest vertical man’ in the world by breaking the global twice.
The on-fire teenager first lowered the mark that Indonesian speedster Veddriq Leonardo set at the beginning of last season when he became the first man in sport climbing to break the five-second barrier.
Watson shaved 0.05 seconds off the previous mark of 4.90s before he lowering it again to 4.79s on his second run.
“Does breaking my own record count as getting [the world record] twice? I don’t know. I’m so excited. It’s a goal I talked about earlier. I said I wanted to be the world record holder. Why not me? Why can’t I do it? And you know what I can. I can do it,” Watson told the IFSC after setting his world records.
The women’s final was an all-Polish affair, with Miroslaw outsprinting compatriot Natalia Kalucka to reign supreme with a rapid winning time of 6.24 seconds, equalling her world record. Miroslaw started with a bang and kept her foot on the accelerator to reach the top well ahead of Kalucka, who clocked 6.75s to take second place.
In the women’s small final, Jeong Jimin of South Korea triumphed over Aleksandra Kalucka, with the latter slipping towards the top part of their contest.
Results from the IFSC World Cup Wujiang:
Men’s speed final
- Wu Peng (CHN) – 4.91
- Sam Watson (USA) – 5.11
- Kiromal Katibin (INA) – 5.07
Women’s speed final
- Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL) – 6.24
- Natalia Kalucka (POL) – 6.75
- Jeong Jimin (KOR) – 6.62