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Youngest lead climbing world champion-Johanna
Ernst sets world record
XINING, China--Johanna
Ernst, a 15-year-old Austrian girl, won the women's
lead final in IFSC World Cup on Saturday in Qinghai of northwest
China, setting the world record for the youngest world champion
in this series.
Photo:
Johanna
Ernst, ranked 21st in the world before Saturday, was
the only athlete that reached the top in the final. She was
also the only one that got top all in qualification, semifinal
and final.
(enlarge
photo)
Ernst told the result to her parents at
home. "They are very proud and you know, they are very happy,"
said she. "Also they can't believe it. They cried for me."
Johanna
Ernst was still in European youth games last year,
and it was her first time to attend the Climbing World Cup.
"The route wasn't very easy. Sometimes it was very hard. I
can't believe it yet that I won," said she. "It's amazing."
The organizers designed the route and the wall
all in accordance with international game standard and restricted
the time within 6 minutes, bringing more difficulty to the
athletes.
None of the other athletes managed to the top in the
final.
Johanna
Ernst, who still wore a teeth-hoop, began to learn
climbing when she was 8 years old. She said she planned to
participate in the next World Cup and see how the world ranking
would be. "I don't know," She smiled when asked weather to
be make climbing a career.
Qinghai is the seventh stop of this year's Climbing
World Cup series. It is the third time for this mountainous
plateau province to host the world-class climbing competition.
A total of 76 athletes from 19 countries and regions participated
in the game.
June 29, 2008
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