Seoul buzzed with excitement Thursday as 22-year-old Long Jianguo from the Chinese mainland stormed to his first world title in mens speed climbing at the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Championships.
Long, known for his explosive starts and flawless technique, blazed through qualifiers and semifinals with runs consistently under five seconds. In the nail-biting final, he edged out Germanys Leander Carmanns with a blistering 4.80-second ascent, shaving off 0.19 seconds to clinch gold.
His victory breaks a 13-year drought for the Chinese mainland in this disciplinethe last man to stand atop the podium was Zhong Qixin, who dominated with four straight IFSC titles from 2007 to 2012.
Beyond the medal, Longs win secures his spot at next years Asian Games in Aichi, Japan, where fans will be eager to see if he can extend his momentum on an even bigger stage.
For the global climbing community, Longs triumph underscores a shift: athletes are now pushing speed records lower than ever before, thanks to advanced training methods, data analytics, and cutting-edge wall technology. As speed climbing prepares for its Olympic debut, the sport is racing into a new era of precision and spectacle.
Whether youre a seasoned climber or new to the vertical world, Long Jianguos breakthrough is a reminder that with split-second dedication and innovative support behind every move, records are there to be rewrittenone rapid ascent at a time.
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Long Jianguo wins men's speed climbing gold at World Championships
cgtn.com
