On April 28, 2026, at the 6th Asian Beach Games in Sanya, Hainan Province, 16-year-old Chinese athlete Zhao Yicheng set a new men’s speed climbing world record of 4.58 seconds during the preliminary round, becoming the first climber in history to break the 4.60-second barrier.

The previous world record of 4.64 seconds was held by American climber Samuel Watson, set at a World Cup event in Bali, Indonesia in 2025. Zhao’s improvement of 0.06 seconds represents a monumental leap in a sport where victories are often decided by hundredths of a second.

Speed climbing uses an IFSC-standardized 15-meter wall with a fixed route, testing athletes’ explosive power, technical precision, and mental composure. Zhao demonstrated an outstanding start reaction and fluid movement throughout his ascent, triggering an eruption of celebration upon touching the top sensor.

Zhao, from Shanghai, had previously won the men’s speed championship at the 2025 China Rock Climbing League in Keqiao, Shaoxing, with a time of 4.71 seconds, surpassing the then-Asian record of 4.73 seconds. His improvement to 4.58 seconds at the Asian Beach Games marks remarkable progress over the past year.

China’s speed climbing program has developed rapidly in recent years, with multiple young athletes emerging on the international stage. Zhao’s world record achievement is a major milestone for Chinese climbing and adds new momentum to the sport’s competitiveness at the Olympics and other international competitions.

Zhao has successfully advanced through the preliminaries and will compete in tonight’s finals.

Source: Xinhua News Agency, CGTN