Polina Khalkevich Claims Silver at the Speed Climbing World Series Stage in China

Polina Khalkevich Shines at World Series Speed Climbing in Guiyang

According to Рубрика: At just 18 years old, Ukrainian climber Polina Khalkevich secured a silver medal at the speed climbing stage of the 2026 World Series held in Guiyang, China. This marks her second podium finish of the season in this elite international competition. After five stages, Khalkevich ranks second overall in the speed climbing discipline.

In the final race, Khalkevich was narrowly bested by China's Den LiZhuan, who completed the route in 6.14 seconds, while the Ukrainian finished in 6.37 seconds. Along the way to the final, Khalkevich triumphed over three formidable opponents:

• In the round of 16, she defeated Zhang Menli from China with a time of 6.60 seconds against 7.07 seconds.
• She then outpaced Capucine Viglione of France in the quarterfinals.
• In the semifinals, she overcame Jin Chimin from South Korea.

Before reaching the finals, Khalkevich qualified as the sole Ukrainian competitor, achieving the fifth-best time among all participants during the qualification round. The final podium in Guiyang was as follows:

• 1st place: Den LiZhuan (China)
• 2nd place: Polina Khalkevich (Ukraine)
• 3rd place: Jin Chimin (South Korea)

This silver medal is Khalkevich’s second of the 2026 season, following her earlier success in late May in Alcobendas, Spain. Throughout this season, she has consistently performed at a high level, finishing within the top 10 in World Series events five times. Notably, in July 2026, she earned the runner-up title at the Youth World Championships and secured sixth place at the senior European Championships in August after reaching the quarterfinals.

Road to Success and Upcoming Competitions

Khalkevich made her World Cup debut (now called the World Series) in 2025, placing 30th in speed climbing at the Krakow stage. The 2026 season still has two remaining World Series events scheduled: from September 18-20 in Chongqing, China, and from October 23-25 in Santiago, Chile.

Polina Khalkevich’s recent achievements highlight her rising status and skill in the global climbing community, emphasizing her potential to become a leading figure on the world stage.

Given her impressive results this season, Khalkevich stands out as one of the sport’s most promising athletes. Her continued progress could significantly influence the growth of climbing in Ukraine. The upcoming competitions in September and October will be critical milestones for her career and overall rankings.

As Khalkevich continues to make her mark on the international climbing scene, her recent achievements echo the success of fellow athletes like Taisiia Onofriichuk, who recently triumphed at the Brno Grand Prix with three gold medals. This highlights the growing prominence of Ukrainian climbers in global competitions. To learn more about Onofriichuk's impressive performance and her journey in the sport, check out the full story here.