14 Speed climbers qualified for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

A host of Paris 2024 tickets were claimed on the penultimate day of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary. Seven men’s and seven women’s tickets were up for grabs from the finals of the Speed competition whilst the Boulder & Lead climbers also settled all but two of theirs after the semi-final stage.

The women’s Speed event in Budapest was won by Poland’s Aleksandra Kalucka who won a very close final match-up against China’s Zhou Yafei who took second place. Kalucka won the final race with a time of 6.50 compared to Zhou’s 6.52.

On qualifying for Paris 2024, meaning her twin sister Natalia did not, Aleksandra said:
"It was very hard today, to deal with the pressure. I knew I had to fight with my sister because we had similar points. So, it was like a rollercoaster.

"I am so happy I did it because it was one of the hardest things I have ever done. So, I am so proud of myself and I am headed to Paris. During our breakfast today we were crying because we were aware that it would be a bittersweet evening for us. It’s a hard situation. It’s kind of not fair because she deserves this so much and now she is crying and she is sad. But I think she is also happy for me."

Taking third was Indonesia’s Rajiah Sallsabillah who beat China’s Niu Di in the small final, 6.64 to 6.71 seconds. All three that made the podium also booked their spot at Paris 2024, and with the athletes from Poland, China and Indonesia previously qualified, the podium finishers from those countries filled their two per country quota. That meant France’s Capucine Viglione and Manon Lebon, who finished seventh and eighth respectively in Budapest qualified for Paris 2024. The two other climbers to qualify were Spain’s Leslie Adriana Romero Perez (ESP) – who finished 11th in Budapest, and Italy’s Beatrice Colli – who finished 14th in Budapest.

Winning the Budapest event was China’s Wu Peng who beat Kazakhstan’s Amir Maimuratov in the big final. Peng posted a 4.90 but his rival Maimuratov fell to hand him the win. There was an all-Indonesian small final for third place with Veddriq Leonardo taking the honours beating teammate Aspar Aspar, 5.05 compared to 5.61 seconds.

Once again, all three on the podium claimed a ticket to Paris 2024 and for the Chinese and Indonesian climbers, the country quota spots were filled from teammates previously qualifying.

USA’s Zachary Hammer was the next to claim a spot at Paris 2024 after finishing seventh in Budapest. Reza Alipour Shenazandiford of Iran also qualified – he finished 13th in Budapest, Ukraine’s Yaroslav Tkach qualified despite finishing in 16th in Budapest, and South Korea’s Shin Euncheol qualified after finishing 11th in Budapest.

SPEED PARIS 2024 QUALIFIED ATHLETES
Aleksandra KALUCKA (POL)
ZHOU Yafei (CHN)
Rajiah SALLSABILLAH (INA)
Capucine VIGLIONE (FRA)
Manon LEBON (FRA)
Leslie Adriana ROMERO PEREZ (ESP)
Beatrice COLLI (ITA)

WU Peng (CHN)
Amir MAIMURATOV (KAZ)
Veddriq LEONARDO (INA)
Zachary HAMMER (USA)
Reza ALIPOUR SHENAZANDIFORD (IRI)
Yaroslav TKACH (UKR)
SHIN Euncheol (KOR)