The women’s speed qualification round got off with a bang. Half of the field recorded personal bests and broke the Olympic record several times until Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw smashed the world record twice with a final best time of 6.06 seconds.
American Emma Hunt qualified for the final as the next fastest climber — 0.3 seconds behind Miroslaw — for a personal best time of 6.36 seconds.
Asian powerhouses China and Indonesia each qualified both of their competitors. China’s Zhou Yafei and Deng Lijuan won their elimination heats to advance to the final. Indonesia’s Dewi Made Rita Kusuma Desak was the third-fastest climber with a time of 6.385 seconds. Piper Kelly of Team USA did not move forward to the final after finishing behind Desak in their heat. Fellow Indonesian Rajiah Sallsabillah lost her elimination heat against Spain’s Leslie Adriana Romero Perez but qualified as the fastest loser with her seeding heat time of 6.58 seconds.
The top eight women advance to the final on Aug. 7.
Women's speed qualification (Top 8):
Aleksandra Miroslaw (POL): 6.06 seconds
Emma Hunt (USA): 6.36 seconds
Desak Made Rita Kusuma Dewi (INA): 6.385 seconds
Aleksandra Kalucka (POL): 6.389 seconds
Zhou Yafei (CHN): 6.389 seconds
Deng Lijuan (CHN): 6.40 seconds
Leslie Adriana Romero Perez (ESP): 6.89 seconds
Rajiah Sallsabillah (INA): 6.58 seconds