Alex Honnold Makes History with Ropeless Ascent of Taipei 101

Renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold has etched his name into the annals of extreme sport, becoming the first person to “free solo” the iconic Taipei 101 skyscraper. On Sunday, 25 January 2026, the 40-year-old athlete ascended the 508-metre (1,667-foot) tower without the use of ropes, harnesses, or any protective equipment.

The feat, which took approximately 91 minutes, was broadcast globally as a live sporting event on Netflix. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the climb was delayed by 24 hours due to inclement weather and slippery conditions on the building’s facade.

Honnold, famed for his 2017 ropeless ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, tackled the glass-and-steel monolith by navigating one of its corners. He utilised small L-shaped architectural outcroppings as precarious footholds and handholds.

The most physically demanding phase involved the “bamboo box” sections, a series of eight segments, each spanning eight storeys. These sections feature steep, overhanging angles that required Honnold to clamber around large ornamental structures using only his bare hands.

Periodic balconies provided the climber with brief opportunities to rest and recalibrate his focus before continuing his vertical journey.

While Honnold is accustomed to the solitude of remote mountain faces, the urban environment provided a starkly different experience. Cheers from a massive street-level crowd erupted as he reached the summit of the spire.

“When I was leaving the ground, it was kind of intense; there’s so many people watching,” Honnold remarked after the climb. “But then honestly, they’re all wishing me well. It just makes the whole experience feel almost more festive.”

Clad in a simple red short-sleeve shirt, Honnold appeared relaxed at the summit, waving to the crowds below. He noted that the wind at the peak was a significant factor, requiring precise balance to avoid being swept from the narrow spire.

The broadcast has sparked a heated debate within the climbing community and the wider public. Critics have questioned the ethics of airing such a high-stakes, life-threatening endeavour on a live platform, with some labeling the spectacle as “ghoulish.”

Honnold is not the first to scale the building; French climber Alain Robert, known as the “French Spider-Man,” climbed it during its 2004 inauguration. However, Robert utilized safety ropes and took nearly four hours to complete the task, highlighting the sheer speed and risk of Honnold’s ropeless achievement.