Zhou Yafei (Chinese: 周娅菲; born 15 May 2004) is a Chinese competition speed climber. She represented China at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Zhou Yafei
Personal information
Native name周娅菲
Nickname滑板 (skateboard)
Born (2004-05-15) 15 May 2004 (age 20)[1]
Lishui, China
Years active2022–present
Height156 cm (5 ft 1 in)
Climbing career
Type of climberCompetition speed climbing
Sport
CountryChina
ClubZhejiang Provincial Rock Climbing Team
Coached byZhong Qixin
Medal record
Women's competition climbing
Representing  China
Asian Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Tai'an Speed

Career

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Zhou competed at the 2023 IFSC Climbing World Championships and finished in eighth place.[1]

During the first leg of 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai, Zhou finished in first place with a personal best time of 6.54 seconds.[2] During the second leg of the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, she finished in second place, just 0.02 seconds behind Aleksandra Kałucka.[3] As a result, she qualified to represent China at the 2024 Summer Olympics.[4][5]

During the first race in the qualification round of the women's speed event, Zhou reached the timer first, however, she failed to press it hard enough to stop the clock on the sensor pad. The next race had a similar issue with the clock on the same pad. The sensor was declared defective, which required a half-hour stop in the competition for repairs.[6][7] She finished the qualification round in fourth place with a personal best time of 6.389 seconds.[8] In the elimination heats, Zhou won her heat against Italy's Beatrice Colli with a time of 6.55. Zhou finished in seventh place after losing in the quarterfinals to eventual bronze medalist Aleksandra Kałucka of Poland.

Major results

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IFSC Climbing World Cup

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Women's speed

Year Venue Opponent Time (s) Result Ref
2024 Seoul, South Korea   Rajiah Sallsabillah 6.78–8.08   Gold [9]

Olympic Games

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Discipline 2024
Speed 7

World championships

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Discipline 2023
Speed 8

World Cup

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Discipline 2023 2024
Speed 16 50

Asian championships

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Discipline 2022
Speed 10

References

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  1. ^ a b "Zhou Yafei". olympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  2. ^ Smirnova, Lena (18 May 2024). "Veddriq Leonardo and Zhou Yafei take speed climbing titles at OQS Shanghai". olympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  3. ^ Goh, ZK (22 June 2024). "Aleksandra Kalucka and Wu Peng claim speed climbing gold trophies at OQS Budapest". olympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  4. ^ Goh, ZK (22 June 2024). "Olympic Qualifier Series Budapest Day 3 wrap-up: First winners crowned and quota spots obtained". olympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  5. ^ Wong, Samantha (4 August 2024). "Sport climbing preview: New format for Paris Olympics means twice as many medals". nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  6. ^ "Records Tumble in Fast Start to Paris 2024". ifsc-climbing.org. 5 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  7. ^ Burgman, John (5 August 2024). "Technical Issues & New World Records in Women's Olympic Speed Climbing". climbing.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  8. ^ Wong, Samantha (5 August 2024). "Poland's Miroslaw breaks world record, nears 6-second barrier in women's speed qualification". nbcolympics.com. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  9. ^ "Sam Watson, Deng Lijuan win Speed Climbing World Cup 2024 season titles as Wang Xinshang, Zhou Yafei clinch victories in Seoul". olympics.com. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
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