Speed Climbing
Head-to-head sprint up a standardised 15 m wall — top climbers reach the top in under 5 seconds.
👥1 per team🌤both
What is Speed Climbing?
Speed climbing is contested head-to-head on two identical 15 m walls of a standardised route. Climbers use a top-rope for safety and race to hit the buzzer at the top. Elite men's times are now under 5 seconds; women's under 6.2. It was a combined Olympic event at Tokyo 2020 and a standalone medal event at Paris 2024.
Quick facts
Category
Adventure & Extreme Sports
Type
Individual
Players
1 per team
Where played
both
Country of origin
🇷🇺 Russia
Estimated origin
Soviet mountaineering training 1950s–70s; IFSC standard 15 m route since 2007
Olympic
Yes
Popularity
global
Sources & provenance
Last verified 2026-08-24.verified