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American climber Alex Honnold completes free-solo ascent of Taipei 101

01/25/2026 11:39 AM
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U.S. climber Alex Honnold successfully ascends Taipei 101 on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
U.S. climber Alex Honnold successfully ascends Taipei 101 on Sunday. CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026

Taipei, Jan. 25 (CNA) U.S. climber Alex Honnold successfully ascended Taipei 101 on Sunday, completing the highest-ever urban free-solo in just over an hour and thirty minutes.

Climbing without a rope, the 40-year-old "Free Solo" icon reached the spire of the 508-meter, 101-floor tower at 10:43 a.m., in the live Netflix special titled "Skyscraper Live."

"This is so cool," Honnold said, after taking a selfie as he stood atop the building's spire.

"I'm so psyched. And you know what, pretty tired actually. The whole top of the building is pretty physical," Honnold said. "So amazing."

He then rappelled down the spire and hugged his wife, Sanni McCandless, who told him she was "having a panic attack the entire time."

Honnold's climb drew a large crowd of fans and supporters to Taipei's Xinyi District Sunday morning, after the event was postponed from Saturday due to inclement weather.

CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026
CNA photo Jan. 25, 2026

(By Matthew Mazzetta)

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