Korean climber Shin Eun-cheol exits men's speed as Sam Watson bags world record

Shin was the only climber to take more than 6 seconds in the elimination round, finishing the route in 7.24 seconds.

Korean sports climber Shin Eun-cheol reacts after finishing the men's speed elimination round of the Paris Olympics at Le Bourget Climbing Venue in Saint-Denis, France on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Korean sports climber Shin Eun-cheol failed to qualify for the men’s speed final at the Paris Olympics after finishing the elimination round with a time of 7.24 seconds, on Tuesday, notching the slowest time on the wall.

In the elimination round at Le Bourget Climbing Venue in Saint-Denis, France, 14 climbers divided into seven heats of two competed. The winners of each heat and the elimination heats loser with the best time in the elimination round were to reach the final.

In speed, climbers compete to climb an identical 15-meter (50-foot) wall set at an angle of 95 degrees faster than their opponents.

Shin competed alongside Wu Peng of China in Heat 5 and finished in 7.24 seconds, while Wu did it in five seconds.

Reza Alipour of Iran in Heat 6 still booked a spot in the final despite losing to David Julian of New Zealand, finishing it in 5.26 seconds.

Shin was the only climber who needed more than six seconds to reach the top. The second slowest time was 5.84 seconds by South Africa's Joshua Bruyns. The United States' Sam Watson set a new world record at 4.75 seconds, although fellow American Zach Hammer, who competed against Watson in the heat, fell.

Shin is the one of three Korean sport climbers at this year’s Olympics alongside Seo Chae-hyun and Lee Do-hyun.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]