These women basically run up an overhanging wall! Watch as Russian speed climber Iuliia Kaplina beats Mariia Krasavina to set a world record in the sport of speed climbing, going the length of a 15-meter climbing wall in 7.85 seconds (current men’s record is 5.88 seconds).
The video starts off with some commentary, so to get to the racing jump ahead to :45.
Speed climbing routes are standardized, allowing athletes to practice on a familiar path or “track” on the 5-degree overhanging wall. Competitive speed climbing is still a young sport governed by the International Federation of Sport Climbing. It made a failed bid at the 2020 Olympic Games. —Yoon Kim
