Gripped Magazine
World Record for Americans in Speed Climbing
The U.S.A. claimed the inaugural World Climbing Speed Mixed Relay title in Kraków, Poland, setting a world record to win gold in the event’s historic debut. Samuel Watson and Emma Hunt became the first team to break the 11-second barrier, clocking 10.89 seconds in the final after lowering the world and Pan American records to 11.00 in the semi-finals.
The victory completed a memorable double for Watson, who earlier won the men’s Speed title, while Hunt added relay gold to a record-breaking day that also saw her become the first woman to climb below six seconds on her way to individual bronze. Indonesia’s Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi and Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi took silver in 11.30, with Kusuma Dewi earning her second medal of the day after winning the women’s Speed event.
“It’s pretty crazy and exciting to have done this on Independence Day,” World Climbing quotes Hunt saying after the victory. Watson added: “It means a lot to do it on Independence Day. We took it very seriously, and we definitely pulled it off as a team.” Hunt also praised the host city, calling Kraków “the coolest venue” and applauding the atmosphere created by the crowd.
Records continued to fall throughout the knockout rounds. China’s Zhou Yafei and Zhao Yicheng won bronze in 11.17, setting a new Asian record after Indonesian teams had lowered the continental mark three times earlier in the competition. Europe’s record also changed hands repeatedly, with Italy’s Ludovico Fossali and Giulia Randi improving it twice before Ukraine’s Polina Khalkevych and Yaroslav Tkach reduced it to 11.66. Watson and Hunt finished the day by rewriting the world record once again with their historic 10.89-second run.
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