Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw clinched her first Olympic gold medal in women's speed climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a new world record of 6.06 seconds during the qualifiers. She beat China's Deng Lijuan in the final by a mere 0.08 seconds, while her compatriot Aleksandra Kalucka secured the bronze medal. American climber Emma Hunt, a favorite, was eliminated in the quarter-finals. In the men's event, 18-year-old American Sam Watson set a new world record with a time of 4.75 seconds, surpassing his own previous record. Speed climbing, now a standalone medal event, distinguishes itself markedly from boulder and lead climbing.