Sixteen-year-old Zhao Yicheng from China set a new world record in speed climbing at the 2026 Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China. On Tuesday, April 28, he raced up the 15-meter wall in 4.58 seconds.
The record time was beaten
A 16-year-old makes history in speed climbing: At the Asian Beach Games 2026 in Sanya, China, Zhao Yicheng of China sped down a mountain on Tuesday, April 28th. 4.58 seconds Climbing the 15-meter wall – a new world record. He beat the previous best mark held by Sam Watson (USA) by 0.06 seconds. Watson had set the record of 4.64 seconds in May 2025 at the IFSC World Cup in Bali. It was his fifth world record in this discipline. For Zhao, the Asian Beach Games marked his first appearance in the senior category. With his time, he now also holds the new Asian record.
Record chase without end
Speed climbing has been experiencing rapid record development for years. Since Qixin Zhong (China) set the best time of 6.26 seconds in 2011, the men's world record has been broken 21 times, 14 of those times since 2021 alone. This represents an improvement of around 27 percent in 15 years. For comparison: If Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record were to fall at the same rate, one would have to sprint under 7.1 seconds today. In the women's category, Polish Olympic champion Aleksandra Mirosław has held the record of 6.06 seconds since August 2024, set at the Games in Paris.
Showdown at the start of the World Climbing Series
The timing couldn't be better: The new World Climbing Series kicks off in Keqiao, China, from May 8th to 10th – and Zhao has already set the bar extremely high for the competition right from the start of the season. For the first time in 2026, the series will feature three independent speed events on four-lane climbing walls, with individual and team medals.
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Credits cover photo: World Climbing