Latest news with #SamuelWatson
United News of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- United News of India
Watson breaks men's speed climbing world record
Bali, May 3 (UNI) American Samuel Watson claimed the men's speed climbing gold in a world record time of 4.64 seconds at the IFSC World Cup Bali, marking his fifth record-breaking performance in this event. During recent winter training, both Watson and China's 15-year-old rising star Zhao Yicheng - who has not yet reached the age limit for international competition this year - posted consecutive performances under 4.70 seconds. The international climbing community had been highly anticipative of a new record ahead of the World Cup season opener in Wujiang, east China's Jiangsu Province last week, but only saw Watson finish fourth after slipping in the semifinals. Watson did not keep the world waiting long, as he set a new world record of 4.67 seconds in the semifinal against Indonesia's Raharjati Nursamsa in Bali. Less than 10 minutes later, he improved his own record by 0.03 seconds in the final against Japan's Ryo Omasa. "To be quite honest, I didn't expect to break the world record," Watson admitted regarding the challenging weather conditions in Bali. "The qualifies and the practice were boiling, I had to put an ice bucket on my head. But I am a competitor, I want to compete regardless of what's going on. The conditions affect everybody." 19-year-old Watson is a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, where he set the previous world record of 4.74 seconds in the bronze medal match. The women's speed gold went to world record holder Aleksandra Mikjailova of Poland, who beat China's Zhou Yafei in the final in Bali. Indonesia climbers Kiromal Katibin and Adi Asih Kadek secured the men's and women's bronze, respectively. Speed climbing features a unified 15-meter track for both men and women and holds the shortest time record of all Olympic events. Since being included as a standalone sport in the Olympics, its world record has been frequently broken during the Paris 2024 cycle, with both the men's and women's records having been broken seven times each (not including this latest record) since 2023. UNI BM
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Britain's Watson wins Romandie time trial
Britain's Samuel Watson won Tuesday's opening time trial prologue at the Tour of Romandie, with Belgian favourite Remco Evenepoel finishing of Ineos Grenadiers, edged out UAE Team Emirates' Portuguese rider Ivo Oliveira by milliseconds to claim the leader's yellow jersey for the first time in his career after the 3.44km route in Saint Imier, 23-year-old says he only felt "pain" in the gruelling photo-finish, after receiving a late call-up to the race."I did not expect it to be honest," said Watson. "I was out training in Andorra yesterday and I got a call from the team saying to get to the airport as soon as I could because I'm racing Romandie tomorrow. Here I am with a victory. It's so special."All I felt was pain. I crossed the line and I didn't know I was leading until the first interview, so it's quite a nice surprise."It's not really set in yet. To say I've won my first WorldTour race with Ineos Grenadiers, my first win with them, is a dream."It definitely gives me some confidence going into the next stages. I was at the end of quite a hard three-day block so today fills with me confidence. On paper, this race suits me."Stage one begins on Wednesday when the riders will face a 194.4km route, including four categorised climbs. Tour of Romandie - first round Samuel Watson (GB/Ineos Grenadiers) 4mins 33secsIvo Oliveira (Por/UAE Team Emirates) Same timeIvan Romeo (Spa/Movistar) +03secsStefan Bissegger (Swi/Decathlon–AG2R La Mondiale) Same timeMaikel Zijlaard (Ned/Tudor) Same time
