The World Climbing Series Kraków 2026 concluded by crowning the first Speed Relay champions. Originally scheduled to begin at 16:30, the medal rounds were brought forward due to adverse weather forecasts, with China emerging as the dominant nation by winning both gold medals.

CHINA COMES FROM BEHIND TO CLAIM MEN’S TITLE

China’s Long Jianguo and Chu Shouhong were crowned the first men’s Speed Relay champions after producing a strong comeback to defeat Team USA 1 in the gold medal race, stopping the clock at 11.07 seconds.

Samuel Watson and Zach Hammer led for most of the final, but a costly slip by Hammer on the upper section of the wall allowed the Chinese pair to take victory, with Team USA finishing in 11.72 seconds to settle for silver.

The bronze medal went to Ukraine 1’s Hryhorii Ilchyshyn and Yaroslav Tkach, who defeated Indonesia 1’s Raharjati Nursamsa and Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi. The Ukrainians stopped the clock at 10.73 seconds, while Indonesia finished in 13.55.

Earlier in the knockout rounds, Watson and Hammer twice lowered the Pan American record, first with 9.98 in the round of 16 before improving it to 9.91 in the quarter-finals. It became only the second continental record to dip below the 10-second barrier, joining Asia’s world record of 9.75.

“This is incredible,” said Long. “I didn’t feel very good in the individual and mixed relay races. Today everything went well, I felt more comfortable and I’m very happy with this result.”

Chu added: “I really liked the team dynamic today. We never gave up and we are very happy with the win.”

For the men’s Speed Relay complete results click here.

CHINESE WOMEN BREAK 13-SECOND BARRIER

China also claimed the women’s title through Zhou Yafei and Deng Lijuan, who became the first pair in history to complete the relay in under 13 seconds.

After lowering the world record to 13.02 in the semi-finals, Zhou and Deng improved it once more in the gold medal race, stopping the clock at 12.89 seconds to secure the inaugural title.

Home favourites Natalia and Aleksandra Kałucka of Poland took silver after an error-filled race, finishing in 14.00 seconds.

The bronze medal went to Indonesia’s Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi and Rajiah Sallsabillah, who defeated Spain’s Leslie Adriana Romero Pérez and Carla Martínez Vidal in 13.14 against 13.52.

“It’s really exciting and I’m so happy with the gold and the world record,” said Deng.

Zhou added: “We knew we had the possibility to set a new world record, but to make it feels great. We’re very happy.”

For the women’s Speed Relay complete results click here.

NEXT UP

The World Climbing Series 2026 now moves to Chamonix, France, for the eighth stop of the season, where Lead and Speed competitions will take place from 10 to 12 July.

News and updates about all World Climbing events will be available on the World Climbing website, and on the Federation’s digital channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, and exclusively for the Chinese audience, Douyin, Weibo, and Xiaohongshu.