Veddriq Leonardo, an esteemed climber hailing from Indonesia, achieved a significant milestone in the sport of climbing by not only breaking the five-second barrier but doing so three times during the IFSC Climbing World Cup 2023 held in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Leonardo established a new world record of 4.90 seconds in the men’s final, thus inaugurating the speed season with a remarkable feat.
Meanwhile, in the women’s category, Aleksandra Miroslaw showcased her dominance by repeatedly surpassing her own world record, ultimately clinching the championship with a record time of 6.25 in the final.
Leonardo’s exceptional performance commenced during the qualification round, where he clocked in at 4.98, a time which was swiftly overshadowed by an astounding 4.90 in the quarter-finals, followed by 4.93 in the semi-finals. Although Leonardo faced a stumble at the pinnacle during the final against Long Jinbao, he still managed to secure a time of 5.01.
In expressing his delight, Leonardo conveyed, “I’m ecstatic tonight. I shattered the record with 4.98, becoming the first man to clock in under five seconds – and I clinch the gold medal in the process. It’s truly incredible, particularly for the first event of the season.”
Miroslaw’s remarkable performance was apparent from the qualifying rounds, as she consistently lowered her record from 6.53 to 6.46 and then to 6.37. She further improved her time to 6.35 in the semi-finals before achieving her final time of 6.25 in the title-decider against compatriot Natalia Kalucka.
“I am truly elated. I mean, 6.25 is simply remarkable,” Miroslaw expressed. “It was my target time for this season – and I achieved it. I am genuinely pleased for the other female competitors as well. It was an exceedingly fast competition. I am thrilled to witness the development of this sport – and the strong competition I faced.”
The upcoming speed circuit is slated to take place in Jakarta on May 6-7. The boulder qualification for both men and women is scheduled for Saturday in Seoul. Viewers can witness the live coverage of the event on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com or through the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) partner broadcasters and their YouTube Channel.
The remarkable achievements of Veddriq Leonardo and Aleksandra Miroslaw have undeniably set a new standard in the world of sport climbing, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their forthcoming remarkable performances.
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