Alex Honnold completes a historic free solo climb of Taiwan’s 508-metre Taipei 101 skyscraper, broadcast live to a global audience
TAIPEI: American climber Alex Honnold has completed a historic free solo ascent of Taiwan’s tallest building.
The 40-year-old scaled the 508-metre Taipei 101 on Sunday without ropes, harnesses, or any safety gear.
Hundreds of spectators gathered at the tower’s base while a global audience watched via a live Netflix broadcast titled “Skyscraper Live”.
Honnold is famed for his 2017 free solo climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan, a feat considered the pinnacle of technical difficulty.
He described the Taipei 101 climb as the fulfilment of a lifelong dream.
“It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to climb a skyscraper,” Honnold said in a promotional video.
“So I am going to be free-soloing Taipei 101… No ropes, no gear, just me and the building.”
Dressed in a red T-shirt and custom climbing shoes, he swiftly ascended the building’s glass and steel southeast face.
The clear-weather climb took approximately one and a half hours to complete.
Spectator Richard Bode, 34, called watching the event a “once-in-a-lifetime experience”.
Another onlooker, Benson, 24, described the climb as “incredibly brave”.
Lin Chia-jou, 54, said she found it “terrifying” but admired Honnold’s dedication.
Honnold paused midway to wave to fans and onlookers photographing his dramatic ascent.
People inside the building watched as he scrambled past the enclosed 89th-floor observation deck.
Taipei 101 chairwoman Janet Chia said it was touching to see fans travel from Singapore, Hong Kong, and southern Taiwan.
She apologised for a one-day weather delay but said the event was “definitely worth the wait”.
Upon reaching the summit, Honnold raised his arms in triumph while looking down at the crowd.
He is the first person to free solo the skyscraper, though not the first to scale it.
In 2004, Alain Robert, known as “the French Spiderman,” climbed Taipei 101 using safety ropes in rainy conditions.
