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AMERICAN climber Sam Watson set a world record in the Olympic men’s speed event this morning – but was unable to win gold.
The 18-year-old missed out on a spot in the final after losing to China’s Wu Peng in the semis by 0.08 seconds.
AP
AFPHe went on to face Reza Alipour in the bronze medal race and managed to record a world record time of 4.74 seconds – 0.01 second quicker than gold medallist Veddriq Leonardo managed in the final.
Watson broke his own world record – 4.75 seconds – which was set in the previous round.
The Texas-born Olympian set his sights on a sub-five second climb before this summer’s Games even began.
Prior to this week, the feat had never been achieved at the Olympics.
Speaking to the New York Times, Watson’s dad, Ray, said: “Everything is impossible until somebody decides that it’s not.
“He just decided he was going to do it. No human being had done it — ever. And he just decided he was going to do it.
“I think that that type of determination and that belief really is just kind of intrinsic in who he is.”
Sport climbing was first introduced to the Olympics back in 2021.
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Spain’s Alberto Ginés López took gold in the men’s combined event, while Janja Garnbret of Slovenia won the women’s.
The women’s speed climbing qualifiers were delayed earlier this week due to a technical issue.
A race between Kelly Piper and Zhou Yafei was affected when one of the pressure pads – which stop the timer – stopped working.
What's happening today at The Games?
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Katarina Johnson-Thompson will go for her first Olympic medal as the heptathlon concludes with the 800m (7.25pm).
Toby Roberts has a great chance of a podium finish in the men’s boulder and lead sport climbing final (9.15am).
Jack Carlin could grab a medal in the men’s sprint in the velodrome, too (5pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
Kate Shortman and Izzy Thorpe go in the artistic swimming, starting with their duet technical routine (6.30pm).
An early start for 10km marathon swimmers Tobias Patrick Robinson and Hector Pardoe (6.30am).
Amber Anning is in the women’s 400m final on the track (7pm) while Yasmin Harper and Grace Reid go in the 3m springboard diving final (2pm).
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
There is a blockbuster men’s football final as Spain take on Thierry Henry’s France at PSG’s Parc des Princes (5pm).
The 4x100m relay finals will be stacked full of the best sprinters in the world – including Americans Sha’carri Richardson and Christian Coleman (6.30pm).
Imane Khelif goes for boxing gold in the 66kg final against Yang Liu of China (9.50pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
The modern pentathlon is the very definition of something different with a superb, eclectic and chaotic collection of event.
The activities include show jumping, fencing, a 200m swim and a laser run, where athletes combine a run with shooting.
STATS MAD
2/54 – The Dutch women’s hockey team have lost just two of their last 54 matches stretching back to December 2022 and are in a sixth straight Olympic final. Can China cause a major shock and deny the Netherlands a fifth gold? Find out at 7pm.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
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