China Shatters Speed Climbing Records in Historic Relay Win

China made climbing history in Kraków, Poland, as both their men's and women's teams captured gold medals and shattered world records in the sport's first-ever Speed Relay competition.

The women's team of Zhou Yafei and Deng Lijuan delivered the most stunning performance of the day. They became the first pair ever to complete the relay in under 13 seconds, finishing at an incredible 12.89 seconds in the gold medal race.

"We knew we had the possibility to set a new world record, but to make it feels great," Zhou said after their victory. The duo had already broken the record in their semi-final round with a time of 13.02 seconds before improving even further when it mattered most.

The men's team of Long Jianguo and Chu Shouhong claimed their gold through determination and teamwork. Despite trailing for most of their final race against Team USA, they capitalized on a slip by American climber Zach Hammer to secure victory with a time of 11.07 seconds.

"I really liked the team dynamic today," Chu said. "We never gave up and we are very happy with the win."

The competition brought together the world's fastest climbers, with teams from Ukraine, Indonesia, Poland, and Spain also competing for podium positions. Poland's Natalia and Aleksandra Kałucka earned silver in the women's event in front of their home crowd, while Ukraine's team took bronze in the men's competition.

Why This Inspires

Speed climbing showcases how human beings continue to push beyond what seems physically possible. These athletes scale 15-meter walls in less time than it takes most of us to climb a flight of stairs, proving that dedication and teamwork can achieve remarkable things.

The sport's rapid growth from niche competition to Olympic status has created new heroes and inspired countless young people to try climbing. Events like this relay format add fresh excitement while building camaraderie between competitors who support each other's pursuit of excellence.

The climbing world now looks ahead to the next World Climbing Series stop in Chamonix, France, where more records may fall and new champions will emerge.