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Sport climber Sam Watson makes his Olympic debut

The 18-year-old Southlake native will compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics today.

Looking up from the ground at the Eiffel Tower in Paris, with the Olympic rings hung on the landmark's side.

How fast do you think Sam Watson could climb the Eiffel Tower?

Photo by Shea Stapley, 6AM City

Quick, grab the remote — sport climber Sam Watson makes his Olympic debut tomorrow morning at 6 a.m. central time. The Southlake native — and current world record holder — will compete in the qualification round for speed climbing.

The 18-year-old broke the world recordtwice, in fact — in April during the IFSC Wuijang World Cup in China, climbing a 15-meter (49-ft) wall in 4.79 seconds.

In honor of his sub-five-second record, here are five things to know about North Texas’ own Spider Man:

  • Watson started climbing at five years old in Grapevine.
  • He joined Team Texas at just eight years old.
  • Argentinian basketball star Manu Ginóbili is Watson’s favorite athlete.
  • He plays chess in his free time — even in the Olympic Village.
  • He’s been learning to speak Indonesian.
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