Renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold completed a historic free solo climb of Taipei 101, the 508 metre skyscraper in Taiwan, becoming the first person to scale the landmark without ropes or safety equipment.
The climb took place on January 24 after being postponed for a day due to rain and unsafe weather conditions.
The ascent, broadcast live as part of a Netflix special, took approximately 90 minutes and was watched by audiences around the world.
Who is Alex Honnold?
Born in 1985 in California, Honnold rose to global fame in 2017 after becoming the first person to free solo El Capitan’s 900 metre Freerider route in Yosemite National Park, a feat widely regarded as one of the greatest achievements in climbing history.
A documentary about his ascent of El Capitan, titled Free Solo, won an Academy Award.
Known for his exceptional focus, physical endurance and unusually low fear response, Honnold has won multiple climbing awards and is also the founder of the Honnold Foundation, which supports sustainable energy projects around the world.
Crowds gathered in Taipei to watch his ascent
Crowds gathered around the base of Taipei 101 and nearby viewing areas as the climber steadily made his way upward. Viewers following the live broadcast saw Honnold pause at various points to rest, chalk his hands and assess his next moves, BBC reported.
Honnold completed the climb in one hour and 31 minutes on Sunday – and celebrated the achievement with one word: “Sick.”
Honnold was greeted at the top of the building by his wife, who expressed concern for the wind and heat as he climbed.
His time more than halves the record of the only other person, Alain Robert, a Frenchman who called himself “Spiderman”, who made it to the top of Taipei 101 in four hours. He had done so with ropes and a harness.
Taiwan Vice-President congratulates Honnold
Taiwan’s Vice-President Hsiao Bi-khim congratulated Honnold, writing on X: “I admit I would probably feel sick, too, barely able to watch.”
Taipei 101 management and local authorities supported the event, coordinating safety planning and logistics for the unprecedented climb.