The IFSC Speed World Cup season concluded this past weekend in Guiyang, China, offering a final set of medals and awarding this year’s series titles! Among the competitors were seven USA Climbing athletes. Sam Watson, who set the World Record earlier this season, brought the most experience, having already competed in 22 World Cups. Meanwhile, Joshua Jan enjoyed his IFSC debut.

Emma Hunt Wins Speed Series Plus Another Bronze Medal

Emma Hunt’s season has been nothing short of consistent. Since the season kicked off in April, Hunt placed 4th in Wujiang, then won gold in Denver, silver in Krakow, and bronze in Chamonix. Of course, at the final stop in Guiyang, she easily made finals, just as she did in every previous World Cup of the season, leaving Qualification in 4th place with a best time of 6.52 seconds. Her best time in Finals was 6.35 seconds, but it was her time of 6.44 seconds in the Small Final that beat China’s Yafei Zhou, winning Hunt the bronze medal.

That marks Hunt’s 10th World Cup medal—more than any other USA Climbing Speed athlete. Throughout the season, she accumulated a total of 3,795 points, making her the first US female climber to win the Speed title.

“It was a really tight race leading into Guiyang,” said Hunt. “I’m glad that I was able to hold it together for a medal and the title!”

Isis Rothfork also climbed in Finals, having finished 15th in Qualification with a time of 7.19 seconds. That’s Rothfork’s fourth Finals of the season.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round was Sophie Curcio, who finished 20th with a time of 7.64 seconds.

Zach Hammer and Sam Watson Lead Men’s Team in Finals

Zach Hammer and Sam Watson, who are no strangers to the spotlight, both made Finals in Guiyang. Hammer left Qualification in 4th place with a best time of 4.93 seconds, while Watson left Qualification in 10th place with a best time of 4.97 seconds, demonstrating just how crucial it is to go sub-5 on the road to Finals.

“For me, historically, I’ve had a history of having bad first runs and then coming back in the second, so a big goal for me this season has been to have a good first and second to help decrease the pressure,” said Hammer following that Qualification performance. “I had a 5.0 first and 4.9 second so a perfect qualification for me.”

Watson lost his first race to Germany’s Leander Carmanns, placing him 11th overall in Guiyang. That said, Watson also won three World Cup medals, set the World Record, and accumulated 3,629 points throughout the season, placing him second overall in the Speed World Cup series.

Meanwhile, Hammer won his 1/8 race with a time of 4.95 seconds, before losing the 1/4 race to Ukraine’s Yaroslav Tkach and placing him 7th overall in Guiyang.

Also representing Team USA in the Qualification round were Ben Jennings, who finished 33rd with a time of 5.42 seconds, and Joshua Jan, who finished 34th with a time of 5.76 seconds.

You can rewatch the IFSC World Cup Guiyang 2025 on the IFSC YouTube Channel. Full results from Guiyang can be found here, while the IFSC’s World Cup ranking can be found here.

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