Watch amazing new speed climbing record – "the fastest speed climbing run ever done in Europe" – being set at the IFSC European Cup
Ukranian climber Yaroslav Tkach took gold with his incredible sub-five-second performance

The second European Cup in speed climbing in Zakopane, Poland, saw Ukranian climber Yaroslav Tkach taking gold with an incredible sub-five-second result.
In the final, Tkach completed the run in 4.93 seconds, beating fellow Ukrainian Hryhorii Ilchyshyn, who took silver with 4.97 seconds.
It was the second speed competition of the IFSC 2025 European Cup circuit.
Tkach's time has been touted as an unofficial European record on the official Ukranian Speed Climbing Instagram account, ua_speed_climbing
Check out the incredible performance, which they say is the "fastest speed climbing run ever done in Europe".
A post shared by Ukrainian Speed Climbing Team🇺🇦 (@ua_speed_climbing)
A photo posted by on
Competition speed climbing, as governed by the IFSC, takes place on 49ft (15m) artificial walls. Climbers race up a 5-degree overhanging wall, with an auto-belaying system from the top.
The European Cup Series 2025 now breaks as speed climbers prepare for the upcoming IFSC World Cup events in Krakow, Poland (July 5-6) and Chamonix, France (July 11013). The next stop on the IFSC European Cup circuit is St. Pölten, Austria on August 17.
Check out our guide to how to watch the IFSC Climbing World Cup on TV or stream it online.
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Charlie is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for hiking, biking, wild swimming and active travel. She recently moved from Bristol to South Wales and now refuses to leave her front door without one of the following: lightweight hikers, wetsuit, mountain bike, tent. Having bought a fixer-upper home that backs on to protected woodland, her love of nature and wildlife has intensified and the dark skies have kickstarted a new fondness for stargazing.