Legendary rock climber Alex Honnold achieved what many considered impossible on Saturday, completing a death-defying free solo ascent of Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest skyscrapers, in a groundbreaking live event broadcast to millions of viewers on Netflix.
## A Historic Ascent
The 39-year-old climbing icon scaled the 1,667-foot (508-meter) Taiwanese landmark without ropes or safety equipment in an astonishing one hour, 31 minutes, and 43 seconds. The feat, streamed live with just a 10-second delay on Netflix's "Skyscraper Live" special, marks the biggest urban free solo climb ever attempted.
While Honnold is not the first climber to ascend Taipei 101, he became the first person in history to do so without any rope protection, relying solely on his extraordinary grip strength, precision, and mental fortitude.
## Battling Steel and Glass
Unlike the natural rock faces that made Honnold famous in his Oscar-winning documentary "Free Solo," the Taipei 101 climb presented unique challenges. The building's smooth steel and glass surfaces offered far less grip than typical rock walls, demanding incredible upper body strength and focus.
The most demanding section proved to be the 64 floors comprising the building's iconic "bamboo boxes" design. Divided into eight segments, each section featured eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by brief balcony rests. Adding to the difficulty was accumulated dirt and grime on the building's exterior, which created grease on Honnold's climbing shoes that he had to repeatedly wipe clean during breaks.
## Weather Delays and Determination
The event was originally scheduled for January 23 but was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. When Honnold finally began his ascent on Saturday, January 25, at 8 PM ET, viewers worldwide held their breath as he methodically worked his way up the gleaming tower.
Strong winds added another layer of danger, particularly as Honnold approached the building's spire. Upon reaching the summit, he paused to take in the breathtaking panoramic view of Taiwan's capital city before beginning his descent.
## Celebration at the Summit
After touching the very top of the spire, Honnold donned a harness and used a rope for the first time during his descent, where his wife Sanni McCandless waited to celebrate the historic achievement.
"It was like, what a view, it's incredible, what a beautiful day," Honnold said after completing the climb. "It was very windy, so I was like, don't fall off the spire. I was trying to balance nicely. But what an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei."
## Redefining What's Possible
The successful climb cements Honnold's status as perhaps the greatest free solo climber in history. His 2017 ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park was documented in the Academy Award-winning film "Free Solo," introducing his remarkable abilities to mainstream audiences.
With the Taipei 101 climb, Honnold has expanded the boundaries of urban climbing while demonstrating that live-streamed extreme sports events can captivate global audiences. Netflix's investment in the broadcast signals growing interest in real-time adventure content.
For Honnold, who has built a career on pushing the limits of human potential, the climb represents another milestone in an extraordinary athletic journey that continues to inspire climbers and non-climbers alike around the world.
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