PAPUA – In the history of Indonesian sports, the name Veddriq Leonardo will always be remembered as an athlete who has made brilliant achievements in the international arena. Veddriq Leonardo, a rock climbing athlete from Pontianak, has proven that Indonesia is able to compete at the highest level by winning the first gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This success is not only a matter of national pride, but also adds to the series of extraordinary achievements in Veddriq’s career which is already loaded with world titles.
Born in Pontianak on March 11, 1997, Veddriq Leonardo grew up with a passion and dedication for sports. Veddriq’s journey to success was not instantaneous. He was first introduced to the world of rock climbing when he was still in high school. At that time, Veddriq was introduced by an older brother to the sport that later became his way of life. Since then, Veddriq has regularly participated in competitions representing his school.
Initially, Veddriq took up bouldering in rock climbing. However, over time, he decided to move to speed. This decision proved to be the right one, as it was in this number that Veddriq began to show his extraordinary potential. It didn’t take long for Veddriq to make an achievement. Starting from national to international events, his name continues to skyrocket as one of the world’s best athletes in this sport.
Since 2018, Veddriq Leonardo has won six world titles at IFSC World Cup events. It started with a win in the United States in 2021, followed by a win in Switzerland the same year. He then continued his dominance in South Korea in 2022 and won again in the USA the same year. Veddriq also defended his title with wins in South Korea and the United States in 2023. This string of victories shows just how consistent Veddriq has been at the top of the climbing world.
However, the pinnacle of Veddriq’s career comes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. With burning passion and determination, Veddriq made it to the speed final, beating competitors from various countries. In the final that took place at Le Bourget Climbing Venue, Paris, on August 8, 2024, Veddriq clocked 4.79 seconds, just 0.05 seconds adrift of the world record holder, Sam Watson of the United States. Although the time was not the fastest, it was enough to deliver Veddriq the first gold medal for Indonesia at this year’s Olympics.
This success is not only about personal achievement, but also brings new hope for the sport of rock climbing in Indonesia. In the midst of intense competition, Veddriq was able to show that with hard work and dedication, Indonesia can achieve the best results on the world stage. Not only that, this victory is also proof that Indonesia has grown rapidly in a sport that previously may have received less attention.
