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Alex Honnold Free‑Solos Taipei 101 in Live Broadcast, Completing First Rope‑Free Ascent

The officially approved broadcast ran on a brief delay to manage risk.

Overview

  • The 40-year-old reached the spire of the 508‑metre tower in about 90 minutes without ropes and later returned to street level by elevator.
  • Taipei 101 management and the Taipei city government authorized the climb, and Taiwan’s leaders praised the global visibility it generated.
  • After a rain postponement, the event was streamed with a reported 10‑second delay and contingency measures in place for the live audience.
  • Public reaction ranged from awe to criticism over televising life‑threatening risk, with some arguing the building’s design made the feat less legitimate.
  • Honnold, renowned for his El Capitan free solo, outpaced Alain Robert’s 2004 ascent, which used ropes and took roughly four hours.