Polish climber Aleksandra Miroslaw cemented her status as speed climbing's undisputed queen by breaking her own world record and securing a historic third World Championship title in Seoul on Wednesday. The 31-year-old Olympic champion outpaced China's Deng Lijuan with a blistering 6.03-second run, surpassing her previous 6.06-second benchmark set during Olympic qualifiers.
Redefining Excellence
In a dramatic rematch of their 2024 Paris Olympics showdown, Miroslaw demonstrated why she remains the sport's gold standard. Deng, battling through injury concerns, delivered a season-best 6.22 seconds to claim her first World Championships silver medal. "This victory means more than people realize," Miroslaw told reporters. "Post-Olympic years test every athlete's resolve – today proves perseverance pays."
China's Rising Stars
While Miroslaw dominated the podium's top step, China showcased remarkable team depth with all six athletes reaching quarterfinals. Zhou Yafei secured bronze in 6.34 seconds against South Korea's Jeong Ji-min, marking her World Championships debut with a medal. The results highlight Asia's growing influence in competitive climbing ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
