In a thrilling display of athleticism at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, China’s Wu Peng clinched the silver medal in the men’s speed climbing event on Thursday. The 21-year-old completed the wall in an impressive 4.77 seconds, narrowly missing the gold by just 0.02 seconds to Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo, who captured his country’s first gold medal in Paris. Sam Watson of the United States secured the bronze, rounding out a fiercely competitive podium.
Speaking after the competition, Wu Peng and Zhong Qixin, the head coach of China’s speed climbing team, reflected on the remarkable achievement. Wu expressed pride in his performance and gratitude for the support from his team and coach. “It’s an honor to represent my country and stand on the Olympic podium,” Wu said. “The competition was intense, and I’m thrilled with the result.”
Coach Zhong highlighted the dedication and hard work that led to Wu’s success, also noting the outstanding performance of Deng Lijuan, who claimed silver in the women’s speed climbing event the previous day. “Our athletes have shown immense determination,” Zhong remarked. “Both Wu Peng and Deng Lijuan have made our nation proud. Their successes are a testament to the progress of sport climbing in China.”
The back-to-back silver medals from Wu and Deng mark a significant moment for the Chinese mainland in the realm of sport climbing, a relatively new addition to the Olympic roster. Their accomplishments signal a promising future for the sport and inspire a new generation of climbers across Asia.
Reference(s):
China's Wu Peng, Zhong Qixin on winning men's speed climbing silver
cgtn.com
