Speed climbing world record (15 m standard wall)

What to remember

On May 10, 2026, in Wujiang, China, Chinese climber Zhao Yicheng reached the top of the 15 m standard wall in 4.54 s at a World Climbing Series event. That is the speed climbing world record.

He had already clocked 4.58 s earlier the same year. In 2017 the record belonged to Reza Alipour, at 5.48 s. From 5.48 s to 4.54 s, the time has dropped by 17.2%, a sizeable gain in an event decided within a few seconds.

Speed climbing is one of the three disciplines of IFSC competitions, alongside bouldering and lead. The challenge is to reach the top of a route as fast as possible, always on an approved wall whose dimensions, layout and hold angles are set in advance. Because the wall is the same everywhere, times can be compared from one competition to the next. Zhao Yicheng has also won three gold medals at the World Climbing Youth Championships.