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 record — twice, 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.
