Sam Watson concludes his time at the Paris Games with another world record in speed sport climbing, although he did not secure the Olympic gold medal.
The American made history by breaking the speed world record for the second time during the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, this achievement came in the midst of competing for the bronze after being eliminated in the semifinals.
Despite being the favorite for the gold, 18-year-old Watson was defeated by Wu Peng of China in the semifinals before setting a new record of 4.74 seconds in the third-place race. Leonardo Veddriq of Indonesia claimed the gold with a time of 4.75 in the final, while Wu finished with 4.77.
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“I was just flying and doing my thing. I think nothing really changed between any of my laps,” Watson said. “Just a couple millimeters of an error is really the name of the game in the sport. So no really regrets. I don’t think the pressure really got to me or anything like that. I think I just made a tiny little stumble.”
Watson initially broke the record with a time of 4.75 in an elimination heat two days earlier. He had previously held the world record of 4.79 since April.
Reflecting on the world record, Watson expressed that it meant “a lot” and was “a big accomplishment,” yet he had not fully grasped the implications of leaving with the record but without the gold medal.
“I haven’t really gone through it,” he noted. “I think all that kind of stuff is external rather than internal. I have a view of who I am in my mind, and that doesn’t really change regardless of my performance. But other people will view me in certain ways, and I hope that way is positive and a good representation of myself, my sport, and my country.”
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After giving his all in Paris, Watson mentioned plans to take a break and possibly go on a vacation. However, he made it clear that his first priority was to enjoy the Olympic Village muffin he had been raving about on social media since his arrival in Paris.
“That was the first thing I was doing, is I would get my chocolate muffin that I brought from the village and eat it right after, regardless of what happened,” he shared.
