1 hour ago
Last Updated:January 25, 2026, 16:32 IST
Alex Honnold free soloed Taipei 101 in Taiwan in 1 hour 31 minutes, halving the previous record. The climb was livestreamed on Netflix.
Alex Honnold free soloed Taipei 101 in Taiwan in 1 hour 31 minutes, halving the previous record. The climb was livestreamed on Netflix. (Photo by I-HWA CHENG / AFP)
American rock climber Alex Honnold has completed a daring free solo ascent of Taiwan’s iconic Taipei 101, scaling the 508-metre skyscraper without a rope, harness or any safety equipment.
The bamboo-inspired tower, once the world’s tallest building, was climbed by Honnold in one hour and 31 minutes. Celebrating the feat, he summed it up with a single word: “Sick."
The climb, which took place in Taiwan’s capital, was livestreamed on Netflix, which said the broadcast would have been delayed had anything gone wrong. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the ascent was postponed due to wet weather.
Honnold is best known for becoming the first person to free solo El Capitan in California’s Yosemite Park, a feat accomplished without safety gear. A documentary on that climb, Free Solo, later won an Academy Award.
His Taipei 101 climb more than halved the previous record. The only other climber to have scaled the building was Alain Robert, known as “Spiderman", who reached the top in four hours using ropes and a harness.
Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim congratulated Honnold on X, admitting she found the climb hard to watch. At the summit, Honnold was greeted by his wife, who had earlier voiced concerns about the strong winds and heat.
During the ascent, Honnold briefly paused near the 89th floor as fans inside the building cheered and waved at him through the glass. Video of the moment, shared on Instagram by Honnold and Netflix, showed him continuing unfazed.
Widely regarded as one of the world’s most accomplished climbers, Honnold has built his career on extreme, rope-free ascents that push the limits of human endurance and nerve.
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First Published:
January 25, 2026, 16:32 IST
News viral American Climber Alex Honnold Scales Taipei 101 Without Gear In Daring 508-Metre Free Solo Climb
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