Veddriq Leonardo, Ambition Of Breaking Record And Appearing Unloaded At The 2024 Olympics

Veddriq Leonardo wants to break the record again at the 2024 Paris Olympics (doc. NOC Indonesia/Naif Al'as).

JAKARTA - Indonesian rock climbing athlete, Veddriq Leonardo, managed to secure a ticket to the quarter-finals of rock climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics which was held at Le Bourget Climbing Venue.

At the qualifying, Veddriq broke world records and Olympic records with a time of 4.79 seconds.

However, the record was broken again by Samuel Watson from the United States who opened up 4.75 seconds on the elimination heats.

According to Veddriq, record breaking in the rock climbing speed number is a motivation in itself. He also has ambitions to break the record again in the following round. Moreover, appearing in the Olympics is a new experience.

"The record broke against each other, it happened in the speed number to make it interesting. I am very happy because this is a new experience and will be something historic for me," said Veddriq after the match.

Veddriq further revealed that playing in the world's largest multi-events is not a burden. The 27-year-old athlete is even to appear loose for the maximum in each round.

"Tampil di Olimpiade ini jadi tanggung jawab. Kenapa jadi bebanan kalau sudah mempersiapkan diri dengan baik."

"So, I ask for prayers so that they can be the best. This Olympics is not a single event, at the Olympic Village and all the atmospheres are olympic spirit," he said.

Furthermore, Veddriq will face the deputy host Bassa Mawem in the quarter-finals. The athlete from Pontianak said he would be more focused on preparing a strategy to win.

"There is a desire to break the record again, but I try to keep my focus on how the strategy to win later," said Veddriq.

Meanwhile, Veddriq qualified for the last eight after defeating his compatriot, Rahmad Adi Mulyono, at the elimination heats.

Rahmad Adi Mulyono actually performed well by recording a time of 5.07 at the setting heats. Unfortunately, he then experienced a false start and completed a time of 5.13 seconds so he could not proceed to the quarter-finals.

"Yes, disappointed. I was too passionate. If I don't fall, I should be able to. However, it's called speed, if I don't fall, I'll start," said Rahmad Adi.