Watson and Deng Clinch 2024 Speed Climbing World Cup Titles Amidst Korean Victories
Sam Watson and Deng Lijuan won the overall titles in the 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup despite not winning the final event in Seoul, where Wang Xinshang and Zhou Yafei secured victories. Watson faced a false start but maintained his lead in the standings, while Deng finished fourth. The season highlights the emerging talents in speed climbing and concludes with upcoming Lead competitions.
The 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup season culminated with Sam Watson and Deng Lijuan being crowned as the overall speed champions. Despite not achieving victories in the final event held in Seoul, Republic of Korea, both athletes secured their titles based on the season’s standings. In the Seoul competition, Chinese climbers Wang Xinshang and Zhou Yafei emerged victorious in the men’s and women’s events, respectively, marking their first careers wins in the World Cup series. Sam Watson, the men’s world record holder and bronze medalist from Paris 2024, faced an unexpected round-of-16 false start but ultimately secured enough points throughout the season to clinch the overall title. His comment on the peculiar circumstances of his win highlighted his journey: “It is such a weird way to win something, but it is definitely really cool. A goal of mine was to win the series: fifth place in ’22, third place last year, and my first World Cup series win in 2024.” In the men’s final, Wang Xinshang triumphed over Kazakhstan’s Amir Maimuratov, despite both climbers struggling with slips on the 15-meter wall. Wang finished with a time of 6.23 seconds, while Maimuratov completed the race in 10.60 seconds. Earlier in the competition, Maimuratov had eliminated Italy’s Matteo Zurloni, the only competitor who had the potential to surpass Watson in the standings. Zhou Yafei secured her victory in the women’s category after capitalizing on a slip by Indonesia’s Rajiah Sallsabillah in the final round. Zhou completed the course in 6.78 seconds, while Sallsabillah finished in 8.08 seconds. Deng Lijuan, unable to secure a final victory, finished fourth after losing to compatriot Wang Shengyan in a close contest, thus allowing her to maintain her lead over Poland’s Natalia Kalucka in the overall standings. The competition in Seoul marks the conclusion of the season’s speed climbing events, with the final Lead competitions scheduled for October 5 and 6, which will be available via livestream on the Olympic Channel and through highlights and replays on Olympics.com.
The 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup has been the premier event for athletes specializing in speed climbing, culminating in high-stakes competitions where climbers vie for both event victories and overall seasonal titles. This year’s season was particularly significant as Olympic medallists competed at their highest level, with the ultimate event taking place in Seoul, South Korea. The competition structure includes various rounds, where athletes must perform at their peak to advance and secure points that contribute to their overall standing in the World Cup series. The event not only highlights individual talent but also contributes to the broader recognition of climbing as a competitive sport, especially pivotal as the sport continues to gain popularity ahead of future Olympic Games.
In summary, the completion of the 2024 IFSC Climbing World Cup season saw Sam Watson and Deng Lijuan secure the overall speed titles, despite their performances in the final event. Chinese athletes Wang Xinshang and Zhou Yafei claimed the final victories in Seoul, establishing their presence in the global climbing arena. The season showcased the competitive spirit of the athletes and underscored the growth of speed climbing as a respected sport.
Original Source: olympics.com
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