Sports climbing has captivated a new audience in its Olympics debut with French gun Bassa Mawem showing the way.
Twenty men, including Australian Tom O'Halloran, competed at the Aomi Urban Sports Park venue near the Tokyo waterfront on Tuesday.
But it was Mawem who was the star turn, clocking a mere 5.45 seconds in a 15-metre "vertical sprint".
The eight best combined score across three events - speed, bouldering and lead will proceed to the final on Thursday.
Speed is as the name suggests, climbers blazing up a 15m wall that has a negative five per cent gradient, while bouldering tests problem-solving skills on low walls and lead is a technical climb against the clock.
O'Halloran was slightly off the pace in his least-preferred discipline, finishing 17th with a best of 7.34 seconds on his first run as Mawem flew to assume pole position ahead of the final two events.
The spectacle had tongues wagging on social media in a good early sign for the International Olympic Committee's agenda to broaden the appeal of the world's largest sporting event by including surfing, 3x3 basketball, BMX freestyle and skateboarding.
The 29-year-old O'Halloran appeared on two seasons of TV show 'Ninja Warrior' and made the grand final in his second season and considers the lead leg his strength.
Australian Associated Press
