What Happened at the World Games 2025?

Chengdu, Aug 15 (NationPress) Long Jianguo of China established a new national record of 4.74 seconds to secure the men's title in the four-lane speed climbing event at The World Games on Friday. Meanwhile, Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi from Indonesia took home the women's title with a time of 6.35 seconds.

In another exciting event, Anahi Alvarez Corral from Mexico triumphed in the women's individual duathlon, finishing just two seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. China also celebrated a victory in the aerobic gymnastics group category, with Italy earning silver and Romania taking bronze at the Dong'an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium.

This was the inaugural appearance of the four-lane format in sport climbing at a multi-sport event. Unlike the Olympic's traditional two-lane setup, this new format allows four climbers to race simultaneously in parallel lanes. The gold medal round features all four finalists competing at once, adding an element of excitement. Long expressed, “I found this format incredibly enjoyable after my first run. There’s a lot of unpredictability involved. During one run, my teammate and I both made errors. Everyone feels the pressure, but it’s about who can maintain their composure.”

A former World Cup champion, Long excelled in the qualification round before progressing to the knockout stage, where he narrowly escaped elimination in the quarterfinals. He became the sole Chinese climber to compete for a medal in the final four. He shared, “When you’re climbing with three others, you’re solely focused and unaware of your position until you reach the top pad.”

Long expressed gratitude towards his team for their support, stating, “Yesterday, I didn’t manage to secure the gold in the traditional two-lane race that I aimed for. Today, my team handled many off-the-wall issues, allowing me to concentrate entirely on the competition.”

Indonesia’s former world record holder, Kiromal Katibin, finished second with a time of 4.81 seconds, while Rishat Khaibullin from Kazakhstan took third place, finishing just 0.02 seconds later.

All four finalists in the women's event executed flawless runs, with Desak emerging victorious, followed closely by Qin Yumei from China, who recorded 6.42 seconds. Rajiah Sallsabillah of Indonesia clinched the bronze with a time of 6.951 seconds, edging out Natalia Kalucka from Poland by a mere 0.005 seconds.

Athletes expressed enthusiasm for the new format, with Logan Schlecht from the USA stating, “The four-lane setup is incredibly enjoyable. It’s the same sport, but it introduces a refreshing twist.” He noted that climbers benefit from four attempts, providing them with more opportunities to rectify mistakes.

Toru Kobinata, vice president of the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), remarked that sport climbing, being relatively new, continuously seeks ways to evolve. He indicated that the World Games serves as an essential platform for testing innovative formats and engaging with other sports. “Having four climbers racing simultaneously is undoubtedly more thrilling for the audience,” he added. He acknowledged the increased physical demands but asserted that the IFSC will keep examining optimal methods to showcase new formats like the four-lane and speed relay.

Mexican Triumph in Women's Duathlon

In the women's individual duathlon, Alvarez Corral surged forward during the 14th cycling lap, finishing in one hour, 25 minutes, and 31 seconds. Maria Varo Zubiri from Spain secured silver, just two seconds behind, while Jeanne Dupont from Belgium earned bronze.

“I anticipated tough competition, particularly from the Spanish athlete and the strong Belgian team. However, I was prepared to battle until the end. The girls are exceptional, and I’m thrilled to compete alongside them,” said Alvarez Corral, who made her debut at the World Games. “I cherished every aspect of this experience, from the competition to the course and the cycling route. I felt strong and enjoyed the whole journey!”

As the sole Chinese representative in the event, Lu, age 19, referred to the race as a valuable learning experience. She managed to overtake several competitors but faced a slight penalty. “During my first transition from running to cycling, I focused too much on catching up with others and forgot to place my running shoes in the designated basket, leading to a time penalty,” Lu explained, expressing satisfaction with her performance.

After a rest day on Saturday, the duathlon will conclude on Sunday with the mixed relay at the Chengdu World Games.

Host Nation Wins in Aerobic Gymnastics

China earned the group gold medal in aerobic gymnastics, with Italy and Romania taking silver and bronze, respectively, at the Dong'an Lake Sports Park Multi-Function Gymnasium.

The Chinese team comprised five university students, including Feng Lei, the only female athlete, along with male athletes Fan Siwei, Liang Wenjie, Teng Hao, and Xu Tong. They had already led the six-team qualification earlier in the day.

During the final, they executed a routine set to fast-paced music that depicted overcoming challenges to save a girl from a fire, honoring firefighters. Their performance earned a score of 20.265 points, surpassing Italy's 19.615 points and Romania's 19.136 points.

Upon confirmation of their victory, Feng, aged 23, smiled through tears as the team embraced before taking a victory lap with their national flag, waving to the audience. “We’ve trained for a long time and faced many challenges,” Feng said. “When we realized we were champions, it brought a tremendous sense of relief and joy.”

When asked why they chose to compete in aerobic gymnastics, the team responded in unison, “Out of love.” “It’s a sport that showcases strength, flexibility, and skill,” added Fan, who referred to the gold medal as his “best birthday gift.”

Italy's silver medal performance featured a mix of traditional Chinese music, kung fu, and dance, eliciting enthusiastic applause.

“Since the competition is being held in China, we wanted to honor the country and its audience,” remarked David Nacci, a 25-year-old engineer from Italy. “We all appreciate Chinese culture, particularly Tai Chi. Chengdu is a beautiful city, and the residents here are incredibly warm and welcoming. It’s been an unforgettable experience,” Nacci concluded.