ST CHARLES, Mo. — Sport climbing is back in the Olympics, but speed climbing is a new standalone event for both men and women in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Today in St. Louis visited Climb So iLL in St. Charles to understand climbing better and to help people get more information if they want to try for themselves. Anthony Slaughter and Michelle Li also tried it out for the first time ever, and they lived to talk about it -- watch the video!
Here are 5 things to know about speed climbing, including what you can learn at home:
- If you want to actually watch the professionals, the Olympic event will take place Aug. 5-10 at Le Bourget Sport Climbing Venue in Saint-Denis. The women's speed final will be on Aug. 7 and the men's on Aug. 8.
- American Sam Watson lowered the world record for speed climbing twice in a span of less than an hour at a World Cup event and will be competing in the Paris Olympics.
- In speed climbing, athletes go head-to-head to scale identical walls as fast as they can. It usually takes seconds for professional athletes to climb the standardized 15-meter wall. As a spectator sport, it appeals to the mainstream because it's very easy to understand -- the fastest person wins.
- The sport's appeal was recognized by the International Olympic Committee, and it was first featured in the Tokyo games in 2021. Then, it was part of a combined event that mixed speed, lead and bouldering. Paris will be the first time speed climbing will be its own event.
- If you want to try your hand at speed climbing, you can get a taste of it at Climb So iLL. Rob Kennedy oversees programs at the gym, and he said all levels and skills can try climbing -- whether it's bouldering, rope belay, lead climbing or more. Kids in elementary school and up can give it a try.