American climber Alex Honnold once again challenged human limits this Sunday by conquering the top of Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan, without using ropes, harnesses, or safety nets.
He took an hour and a half to complete the 101-floor climb. The most challenging section was the central 64 floors, known as the "bamboo boxes," which required climbing steep and protruding segments.
Upon reaching the summit, the athlete recounted the tension of the final moment: "It was very windy, so I thought, 'don't fall off the needle.' But I said, 'What an incredible position, what a beautiful way to see Taipei!'"
The feat, followed by a crowd in the streets and millions via streaming, culminated in an image for the history books: a selfie taken from the skyscraper's spire at 508 meters high while battling against gusts of wind.
According to the Argentine News Agency, based on information published by the newspaper ClarÃn, the event titled "Skyscraper Live" was broadcast by Netflix under strict preventive measures: the broadcast had a programmed 10-second delay. Unlike Frenchman Alain Robert, who scaled the building in 2004 using safety lines, Honnold became the first person to do so in "free solo" mode (without protection).
"It has been the dream of my life to climb a skyscraper," confessed the athlete, who celebrated with his arms raised to the applause of the public gathered at the base of the tower to witness what they described as "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
