Olympics 2024 chaos as event is DELAYED midway through due to technical issue and competitors complain
THE women’s speed climbing was delayed after a technical issue caused huge controversy.
Kelly Piper vs Zhou Yafei were first up at Le Bourget today in a race to the top of the wall.
The Chinese star flew up the left lane and thought she had touched the pressure pad first.
But she apparently did not make enough contact and the electronic timer failed to stop, allowing American Piper to claim a bizarre victory in just over seven seconds.
There was then more drama in the next race as again the timer on the left could not be stopped by the winner Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi.
Officials decided to delay the event and send a mechanic up the 15m climb to check if the equipment was working.
During the 20 minute pause, it was announced that the two climbers would be given a solo attempt to register a fair time.
Zhou, who had complained to officials after being a victim of the tech malfunction, returned to the wall and it was well worth the wait.
She tapped the pad in just 6.54 seconds – that was not only a new personal best but it broke the Olympic record.
Made Rita, the other aggrieved star and reigning world champion, then beat Zhou’s time, clocking 6.52 seconds.
And the record kept being smashed in remarkable scenes as USA’s Emma Hunt got to the top in 6.36 seconds.
Incredibly, the record was broken in three races in a row.
And the climbers were not done there, as just two races later Poland’s Aleksandra Miroslaw broke the world record, getting up the wall in 6.21 seconds.
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