Olympic climber channels Spider-Man as he sets new world record | Other | Sport

A climber at the 2024 Olympics has been compared to fictional superhero Spider-Man after setting a new world record with an incredible performance in the wall climb event in Paris.

The USA’s Sam Watson was competing in the speed climbing against his compatriot Zack Hammer with the aim of getting to the quarter-finals.

But the contest was over before their names were barely read out as Watson executed an almost gravity-defying climb.

The 18-year-old sensation managed to scale the 15-metre-high wall in just 4.75 seconds, setting a new world record in the process – just moments after Indonesia’s Veddriq Leonardo had equalled the 4.79 seconds record.

He gave the illusion of crawling up the wall at a rapid rate while his opponent Diamond struggled to hoist himself onto the small rocks.

The Texas native scampered up the wall at incredible speed, earning him comparisons to the neighbourhood movie hero Spider-Man from fans watching at home.

One user on X, @whojum, wrote: “Y’all sure Sam Watson is not Spiderman??? 4.75 on the speed climbing???”

Another @FormaldehidCH20 said: “Sam Watson is Spiderman I think.”

The official @TeamUSA account also tweeted its congratulations, writing: “SPEEDY SAM ‼️ Huge congrats to Sam Watson on his new world record!”

Ed Leigh, working as a commentator for BBC Sport, was left astounded by his climb in Le Bourget as he detailed the events occurring before his eyes.

“Watson with a really clean start, Zack Hannah makes a mistake, this one’s going to be Sam Watson, what time…” BBC commentator Leigh said, before mistakenly claiming the was 5.75 seconds, when it was 4.75.

“A new… world… recoorrrd for Sam Watson of the USA. His record was equalled in the qualifying round, [now] he’s claimed it back. There is fast, and there is Sam Watson fast. That is frankly ridiculous.”

Watson will face another challenge from Leonardo in the quarter-finals, which will take place on Thursday. There, he will meet reigning world champion Matteo Zurloni of Italy.