Renowned climber Alex Honnold, famous for his astonishing ability to ascend towering structures and rock faces without ropes or safety equipment, recently undertook another monumental challenge. On January 25, 2026, Honnold successfully free-soloed the 101-story Taipei 101 building in Taiwan, a feat that once again underscored his status as one of the world’s most impressive and daring athletes.
While most individuals experience vertigo from great heights, Honnold possesses an extraordinary composure that allows him to navigate extreme altitudes barehanded and without any protective gear. This remarkable skill has propelled him to global recognition within the climbing community and beyond. Among his many legendary ascents, one of the most celebrated is his free solo of El Capitan, a nearly 1,000-meter-high granite monolith in Yosemite National Park, United States. This iconic climb garnered him worldwide acclaim and was documented in the Oscar-winning film ‘Free Solo’. Additionally, the 40-year-old athlete has conquered the formidable Ingmikortilaq cliff in Greenland, which stands at an imposing 1,144 meters.
The recent ascent of Taipei 101, a 508-meter-tall glass and steel skyscraper, drew significant attention. Thousands of spectators gathered live at the base of the building, while countless others followed the event worldwide, eager to witness Honnold’s historic attempt. He is the first person to climb this particular building entirely without safety ropes or harnesses. The challenging climb took Honnold approximately an hour and a half to complete. Upon reaching the very top of the tower, he was seen raising his arms in triumph, marking the successful conclusion of what many consider an incredibly perilous endeavor.
This daring free solo by Honnold stands in stark contrast to previous ascents of the iconic structure. Notably, in 2004, French urban climber Alain Robert, often dubbed ‘the French Spiderman,’ also scaled Taipei 101. However, Robert utilized safety ropes during his ascent, which notably took place amidst rainy conditions. Honnold’s completely unassisted climb sets a new benchmark for urban climbing achievements.
