'Spiderwoman' athlete scales a 15m wall in under seven seconds

Astonishing moment athlete dubbed ‘Spiderwoman’ scales a 15m wall in under seven seconds to break world speed-climbing record

  • Footage shows Aries Susanti Rahayu, from Indonesia, scale it in 6.995 seconds 
  • She and Song Yiling from China were competing in IFSC Climbing World Cup
  • Rahayu soared ahead of Yiling, who held the previous world record of 7.101s 

This is the moment that an athlete dubbed ‘Spiderwoman’ scaled a 15metre wall in under seven seconds to smash the women’s speed-climbing world record.

Aries Susanti Rahayu, from Indonesia, flew up the wall while competing at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Xiamen, China, in 6.995 seconds.

She soared ahead of her competitor Song Yiling from China. Yiling held the previous world record of 7.101 seconds.

Aries Susanti Rahayu, from Indonesia, celebrates smashing the women’s speed climbing world record while competing at the IFSC Climbing World Cup in Xiamen, China

The clip shows Rahayu warming up by rubbing her hands together and shaking out her shoulders.

She grips the first hold – the plastic ‘rock’ that juts from the wall – and checks her grip on wall A.

Her opponent, on wall B, stands poised in the same position.

The two women wait for the flashing light on the left to turn a steady green and when it does, they begin to rapidly climb. 


Rahayu scaled the 15metre wall in 6.995 seconds. She soared ahead of her competitor Song Yiling from China

When Rahayu reaches the top, she smashes an orange button that stops the clock and falls backwards in relief

The clip shows Rahayu warming up by rubbing her hands together and shaking out her shoulders

Yiling slips on the second hold allowing Rahayu to soar ahead by throwing herself up the almost sheer face.

When she reaches the top, she smashes an orange button that stops the clock and falls backwards in relief.

She punches the air as she is let down the wall slowly, celebrating her groundbreaking win.

Yiling slips on the second hold allowing Rahayu to soar ahead, throwing herself up the almost sheer face

Footage of the feat was posted to Twitter by Mark Serrels who commented: ‘Women’s speed climbing record was smashed. Under seven seconds.’

Viewers took to the comments to share their amazement. 

Max described Rahayu as ‘Spiderwoman’. Addie wrote: ‘I identified at least 47 points at which my everything would dislocate and I would fall off.’

Nat Eschenique said: ‘I wouldn’t even have been able to do that distance in 7 seconds if I fell off the top.’ 

Climbing will be included at the Olympics for the first time next year as the games head to Tokyo.

Bouldering, sport climbing and speed climbing are the three disciplines set to feature.

Athletes who complete in this sport have to be good at all three, leading some to dub it a ‘vertical triathlon’.

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