Sport climbing is a fixture where athletes ascend natural or artificial rock walls. Speed climbing, which evolved from mountaineering and military training, has developed into a thrilling modern sport. It first appeared at the World Games in 2005 and became an Olympic event in 2016.

At the Sanya 2026 Games, the climbing competition will feature four events: men’s and women’s individual speed and mixed team relay. The competition will take place over two days, with nearly 100 athletes participating.

Each climber must ascend a 15-meter-high wall with a 5-degree overhang as quickly as possible. Rankings are determined by completion times on standardized routes. Speed climbing consists of two stages: the preliminary round and the final.

Individual standard speed climbing involves athletes competing individually on two routes, whereas the speed relay involves two pairs of athletes competing on four routes as a team. Each team has two athletes: one climbs on the left route, and upon stopping the timer, the other athlete starts on the right route.

The standardized climbing wall features four lanes, each measuring 15 meters in height and 3 meters in width and weighing approximately 30 tons. An automatic belay device ensures safety, and top male climbers typically finish in 4-5 seconds, while top female climbers complete the route in 6-7 seconds.

Speed climbing emphasizes explosive power, precision, and mental focus, offering spectators an electrifying visual experience.