China claimed both Speed Relay titles at the World Climbing Series Guiyang 2026, with Fan Jingyue and Zhang Shaoqin taking women’s gold before Ling Yongzhi and Zhao Yicheng broke the men’s world record on their way to victory.

FAN AND ZHANG SEAL WOMEN’S GOLD

China's Fan Jingyue and Zhang Shaoqin saved their fastest run of the competition for the gold medal race, stopping the clock at 13.18 to claim the women’s Speed Relay title.

Spanish climbers Leslie Adriana Romero Pérez and Carla Martínez Vidal had topped qualification, but a slip early in the gold medal race left them unable to challenge for victory. Spain 1 finished with 14.57 to take silver.

South Korea 1 completed the podium as Jeong Jimin and Sung Hanareum crossed the line in 13.43, defeating France’s Louise Fontaine and Capucine Viglione, who finished fourth in 14.99.

The bronze was Jeong’s second medal of the competition after she also claimed third place in the individual Speed event, defeating Sung in the bronze medal race.

For Zhang, the victory was especially meaningful as she celebrated gold in front of her home crowd: “I'm very happy to win gold in my hometown. I want to thank my friends and family who came here to support me, and my team.”

CHINA BREAKS MEN’S WORLD RECORD

China’s dominance continued in the men’s event, with Ling Yongzhi and Zhao Yicheng of China 1 facing their compatriots Shi Zechuan and Li Xu in an all-Chinese gold medal race.

Both teams broke the 10-second barrier, but Ling and Zhao produced the fastest time to win gold in 9.67, while Shi and Li took silver in 9.87.

The result capped a remarkable evening for Ling and Zhao, who had already rewritten the world record in the semi-final. The pair each clocked 4.79 seconds, combining for 9.58 to lower the previous record of 9.75 – set by Long Jianguo and Zhao Yicheng.

“I'm so happy for both the gold medal and the world records, now I get to share a record with the individual world record holder,” said Ling.

Zhao added that the partnership was still in its early stages: “This was our very first time climbing as a team. The time we set in practice was our very first time together. We will climb again in Chongqing and maybe we can set another record!”

AUSTRIA TAKES FIRST RELAY MEDAL

Team Austria 1 secured bronze with Kevin Amon and Lukas Windischerin in the men’s event, defeating Canada’s Dylan Le and Ethan Pitcher in the bronze medal race. Austria crossed the finish line in 10.65, while Canada finished fourth in 11.25.

The medal marks Austria’s third-ever podium finish in the Speed discipline and their first in a relay event.

China’s double triumph also continues a remarkable run in the four-lane format. For the second event out of two, China has won both the men’s and women’s Speed Relay titles, following the same achievement at the first four-lane event of the 2026 season in Krakow, Poland.

NEXT UP

The third and final four-lane Speed event of the season is set to take place in Chongqing, China, from 18 to 20 September.

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