Secured from above, climbers race up standardised, parallel routes.

The objective of Speed is to reach the top of a 15-metre wall in the shortest possible time. Men and women compete on identical routes, which remain unchanged throughout all rounds of the competition.

In the final rounds, athletes compete head-to-head, with the winner being the first to hit the finish pad at the top of the wall.

Speed competitions have historically been held on two-lane walls. Four-lane formats have been used only at selected regional events, such as the Asian Games. In 2024, World Climbing officially tested a four-lane format in Madrid, ahead of its international debut at The World Games in Chengdu, China, in August 2025. In 2026, the World Climbing Series will, for the first time, feature three standalone Speed events held on four-lane walls, with both individual and relay medals awarded.

Speed is the only Climbing discipline with officially recognised world, continental, and Olympic records, with a total of 32 records currently tracked.

Explore the complete record lists for women, men, and mixed teams.