Stokes breaks British Speed Record twice in September

Rafe Stokes setting a new British Speed Record in Wujiang, China. Photo: Dimitris Tosidis / IFSC

For the second time this month, Rafe Stokes set a new British Speed Climbing Record when he competed at the IFSC Speed World Cup in Wujiang, China.

The final event of the IFSC Speed World Cup series in 2023 took place on 22-24 September in Wujiang, China, and representing GB Climbing was Speed athlete Rafe Stokes.

Up against over 60 other elite competitors, it was going to be a high pressure event. After a slip on his first run, Stokes kept his cool and to post a quick 5.557 seconds that earned him 30th place. This meant that, for the second time in September 2023, Rafe broke the British Speed Record, just weeks after hitting a time of 5.588 seconds on 8 September at the British Speed Climbing Championships in EICA Ratho, Scotland.

It’s been fantastic to watch Rafe continually raise the bar over a long and challenging season, including 10 rounds of international competition. Hitting a new record one final time before the winter break showcases what can be done with dedication and determination, and showcases his commitment and phenomenal progression.

Congratulations Rafe, we’ll be counting the micro seconds until we can see what you bring next season!