Veddriq Leonardo's Emotional Chamonix Victory Ignites the 2026 Men's Speed Title Race

The 2026 Men's Speed title race just received a massive jolt of adrenaline. After battling a string of injuries that kept him off the top of the podium since his historic gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indonesia's Veddriq Leonardo announced his return to form with a blistering victory at the World Climbing Series in Chamonix, France.[1][3]

The victory fundamentally reshapes the second half of the 2026 season. Prior to Chamonix, the men's speed standings had been heavily dictated by the Chinese national team, with athletes like Jianguo Long and world record holder Zhao Yicheng commanding the early stops. Leonardo's resurgence proves the veteran is ready to challenge for the overall crown.[2][3]

"I feel great. I feel grateful. It's my first gold medal after the Olympics and it's taken a long time to get it," Leonardo told reporters following the final. The emotion was palpable for the 29-year-old, who admitted he had barely been able to train properly on the wall leading up to the European leg of the tour.[1][3]

The Chamonix final was a showcase of Indonesian depth, pitting Leonardo against his younger compatriot, Antasyafi Robby Al Hilmi. Al Hilmi, who captured gold at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand, had been turning heads all weekend with his consistency and explosive starts.[1][4]

In the decisive race, experience won out. Leonardo exploded off the starting pad to strike the buzzer in 4.89 seconds, while Al Hilmi finished with a highly respectable 5.11 seconds to secure the silver medal. The 1-2 finish cemented Indonesia's status as a speed climbing powerhouse on the global stage.[1][2]

Leonardo's path to the gold was arguably more impressive than the final itself. To reach the top of the podium, the former world record holder had to navigate a brutal knockout bracket that included eliminating the United States' Samuel Watson and current world record holder Zhao Yicheng in head-to-head matchups.[2][3]

The bronze medal race provided its own drama, with Japan's Ryo Omasa edging out Zhao in a photo finish. Omasa clocked a 4.701, beating the Chinese star by a razor-thin margin of just three-thousandths of a second to claim the final spot on the podium.[1]

The men's result capped off a perfect weekend for the Indonesian contingent. Earlier in the competition, Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi captured gold in the women's speed event, securing her second consecutive World Climbing Series victory following a win in Krakow and completing an Indonesian sweep of the speed disciplines.[2][3]

With the European leg concluding, the World Climbing Series now shifts its focus to a critical stretch of events in Asia. Stops in Koper, Guiyang, and Chongqing will serve as the ultimate proving ground before the season finale in Santiago, Chile.[5]

For Leonardo, the Chamonix gold is more than just a single victory—it is a declaration that the race for the 2026 overall title is wide open. As the tour heads toward its climax, the battle between the resurgent Indonesian veteran and the formidable Chinese squad promises to be one of the most compelling narratives in the sport.[2][5]