World Climbing Series Santiago (Finale)
Speed climbing comes to South America for a late-October series finale in Santiago, the host of the 2023 Pan American Games where Watson qualified for Paris 2024, which makes it something of a special venue for the American.
After travelling to new time zones for six other competitions this year, a stop only two hours off Dallas will be a welcome change.
The series will be decided here. It is also the last chance for Watson or Zhao Yicheng赵一程Zhào Yīchéng to set a mark going into the off-season, with the two of them separated by hundredths at the top of the sport and the world record likely to move again before either of them is finished.
Zhao Yicheng
4.54
At 16-17 he already owns the world record and is the clear favorite every time he steps to the wall. The first sub-4.5s run may well be his.
Emma Hunt
5.99
The fastest woman in history and the standard-bearer for the USA speed program heading toward LA28, even though the Kraków gold slipped away after her record run.
Samuel Watson
4.60
The top American man and Zhao's main rival; a consistent podium threat who is pushing to reclaim the record.
Preview: results will be added once the event is complete and verified. Official event info →
Photo of Santiago: Pablo García Saldaña · CC0