China's Wu Peng dazzled the crowd at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Thursday, racing up the wall to snag a silver medal in the men's speed climbing event. At just 21 years old, Wu clocked an astonishing 4.77 seconds—only 0.02 seconds shy of gold medalist Veddriq Leonardo from Indonesia. Talk about a photo finish! 🧗♂️💨
The exhilarating final saw Wu Peng narrowly beaten by Leonardo, who claimed Indonesia's first gold in Paris. Sam Watson from the USA grabbed the bronze, completing a podium of powerhouse climbers.
After the heart-pounding competition, Wu and his coach, Zhong Qixin, chatted with CGTN Sports Scene's Greg Laffradi. Wu shared his excitement about the race and reflections on his performance. \"It was an incredible experience,\" he said. \"I gave it my all, and I'm thrilled to bring home a medal for China.\"
Coach Zhong couldn't be prouder of his protégé. \"Wu's dedication and hard work have truly paid off,\" Zhong remarked. \"He's an inspiration to young climbers everywhere.\"
The Chinese speed climbing team had double the reason to celebrate, with Deng Lijuan capturing silver in the women's event just a day earlier. \"We're making history here in Paris,\" Wu added. \"Deng's achievement motivated me to push even harder.\"
With climbing making a splash at the Olympics, these rising stars are sure to inspire a new generation of adventurers. Who's ready to strap on some climbing shoes and hit the wall? 😎🧗♀️
Reference(s):
China's Wu Peng, Zhong Qixin on winning men's speed climbing silver
cgtn.com
