China Wins 1 Gold, 2 Bronze at Climbing World Cup in Madrid

China’s climbing team delivered a commanding performance at the IFSC World Climbing Series Comunidad de Madrid 2026, securing one gold and two bronze medals in the speed climbing events held May 28–31 in Alcobendas, Spain. The result underscores China’s rapid ascent in competitive climbing, particularly in the speed discipline.

A Breakout Performance for 19-Year-Old Chu Shouhong

The gold medal was won by 19-year-old Chu Shouhong (储守宏) in the men’s speed event, marking his second career World Cup title. According to People’s Daily, Chu defeated Indonesia’s Al Hilmi in the final with a personal-best time of 4.75 seconds, having already lowered his personal best to 4.76 seconds in the semifinals against teammate Yang Jie.

Chu’s performance in Madrid continues a remarkable trajectory. In April 2026, he won gold at the Asian Climbing Championships in Meishan, Sichuan, with a time of 4.90 seconds, securing qualification for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games. His back-to-back personal bests in Madrid — dropping from 4.76 to 4.75 seconds in consecutive rounds — signal a young athlete peaking at the right moment.

Trained by the Huaihua City Sports School in Hunan Province, Chu has emerged as one of China’s brightest climbing prospects. As CNR (央广网) reported, he is a Jingzhou native who has progressed through the ranks of China’s youth development system.

Depth Across the Men’s and Women’s Teams

Yang Jie (杨杰) added a bronze medal in men’s speed, defeating American Zach Hammer in the small final to secure his first World Cup podium finish. On the women’s side, Zhang Shaoqin (张少琴) earned bronze after defeating teammate Mu Yuju (牟玉菊) in an all-Chinese bronze medal match. Mu finished fourth, achieving her personal best World Cup result.

China sent a full lineup of six men and six women to the Madrid event, and nine of those 12 speed athletes advanced to the finals — a testament to the country’s growing depth in the discipline. As Tencent News (体坛周报) noted, China topped the medal table for the speed events.

Notably absent from the competition were China’s Zhao Yicheng, who set the men’s speed world record at the Wujiang World Cup earlier in May 2026, and American world record holder Samuel Watson, both of whom opted to rest. Olympic champion Veddriq Leonardo of Indonesia was eliminated in the round of 16.

International Competition Heats Up

On the women’s side, American star Emma Hunt dominated the field, winning gold with a time of 6.08 seconds — just 0.05 seconds off the world record. As El Periódico reported, Hunt confirmed from the round of 16 that she was “a step ahead of the rest” and left Alcobendas as one of the standout performers of the season. Ukraine’s Polina Khalkevych took silver.

In the boulder discipline, Japan’s Sorato Anraku won men’s gold and Great Britain’s Erin McNeice took the women’s title. China’s boulder results lagged behind its speed performance, with Pan Yufei placing 12th in men’s and Zhang Yuetong finishing 9th in women’s — a tie for her personal best, according to the IFSC official site.

What This Means for China’s Climbing Program

The Madrid results reinforce China’s status as a powerhouse in speed climbing. With Chu Shouhong’s rapid improvement, Zhao Yicheng’s world record, and a deep bench of talent reaching finals, China has established itself as a formidable force on the international stage.

The boulder discipline, however, remains an area for development. While China’s speed athletes continue to excel, the gap in boulder results suggests a strategic focus on speed — the discipline where China has the strongest medal prospects at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya and, looking further ahead, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Looking Ahead

Chu Shouhong’s trajectory will be one to watch as the World Cup season continues. With two World Cup golds already in his young career and an Asian Games berth secured, the 19-year-old is positioning himself as a serious contender for international honors. The question now is whether China can translate its speed dominance into broader success across all climbing disciplines.