American teenager Sam Watson sets world record in speed climbing at Paris Olympics

Sam Watson Paris Olympics

On Tuesday, 18-year-old Sam Watson from Texas set a speed climbing world record of 4.75 seconds at the Paris Olympics. This achievement makes him the fastest-ever Olympian in a timed sport.

Watson set the previous speed climbing world record of 4.79 seconds at a World Cup event in China earlier this year. During Tuesday’s heats, Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo matched that time. In the next round, Watson went quicker once again.

Speed climbing involves scaling

Speed climbing involves scaling a 15-meter wall in around five seconds, with athletes racing head-to-head. Lightning reactions and fast-twitch muscle fibers are crucial, and even a slight mistake can result in elimination.

Watson aims to win races and reach the top of the podium. He noted that he went faster in practice and believed it was possible to break a world record at the Olympics.

Sport climbing debuted at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago, combining speed, bouldering, and lead into one medal event. For Paris, the format changed, with speed climbing as one event and lead and bouldering as another.

The men’s speed finals will take place on Thursday in Le Bourget, with the women’s on Wednesday. Earlier this week, Poland’s Aleksandra Mirosław beat her own women’s world record twice, clocking times of 6.24 and 6.06 seconds in the heats.

Watson, from Southlake, Texas, started climbing at a young age. His talent was evident, and he quickly progressed. In 2022, he became the youngest man to win a medal at a World Cup event at age 16 and set the American speed record the following year.

Victory at the Pan American Games earned Watson

Victory at the Pan American Games earned Watson a spot on the US team for the Paris Olympics. He now enters the finals as one of the favorites to win gold.

Competing at the Olympics has been a significant experience for Watson. He enjoys being a member of Team USA and meeting fellow athletes. Away from climbing, Watson is an avid chess player and loves learning languages, including Indonesian.