LE BOURGET, France — On Wednesday, Aleksandra Miroslaw, a Polish sport climber sporting a
sleek ponytail, ascended the speed climbing wall with breathtaking speed, earning more than just a gold medal.
Her performance marked a historic moment, officially bringing the incredible pace of sport climbing to the Olympics.
While sport climbing made its debut at the Tokyo 2021 Games, the sport’s spectacular speed aspect might not have received the attention it deserved because of an unusually competitive format.
Imagine if Usain Bolt, the fastest sprinter in Olympic history, had to compete in a multi-discipline event combining the 100 meters, the 1,500 meters, and the steeplechase to secure a medal. That’s somewhat akin to what sport climbers faced in Tokyo.
Sport climbing features three disciplines: "speed," the equivalent of the 100-meter sprint; "boulder," which emphasizes short, powerful routes; and "lead," a test of endurance and technique on longer routes. In Tokyo, climbers had to compete across all three disciplines, with their combined scores determining the winners.
Miroslaw set a new world record in women's speed climbing at Tokyo, though the moment didn’t quite capture the spotlight it deserved.