American rock climber Alex Honnold has stunned the world by climbing Taiwan’s Taipei 101 skyscraper without a rope, harness, or any safety equipment.
The tower, which boasts 101 floors and rises 508 meters (1,667 ft), is constructed from steel, glass, and concrete, with its design inspired by a bamboo stalk.
The historic ascent was streamed live on Netflix, sparking a flurry of reactions on social media.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, the climb was postponed due to damp conditions.
When it finally began on Sunday, the 40-year-old reached the top in one hour and 31 minutes.
After finishing, he summed up the feat in a single word, “Sick.”
During Netflix’s live broadcast, he even took a selfie from the summit and was greeted by his spouse, who expressed her worries over the gusty winds and scorching temperatures he faced.
Honnold didn’t just break the record; he obliterated it.
He scaled Taipei 101 in less than half the time of the only other person to have successfully climbed the tower, French climber Alain Robert, who completed the ascent in four hours using ropes and a harness.
Robert, famously nicknamed “Spiderman,” had been the only person to previously reach the top.
Taiwanese Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim praised Honnold on X, writing: “I must acknowledge that I would likely feel quite ill myself, hardly able to witness the feat.”
The climb featured a surreal moment on the 89th floor, where onlookers waved at Honnold through the glass.
Footage of the encounter, shared on Instagram by both Honnold and Netflix, showed him completely unfazed.
Fans flooded the comments: Olivier Champs wrote, “Feeling a bit unwell just watching it,” while Vanessa added, “My heart was racing watching you. You are amazing.”
User Stevie joked, “I need to know what those shoes are so I can wear them when I get on the stool to reach the second shelf in my kitchen without falling over.”
Honnold first rose to international fame as the pioneer who scaled El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without safety gear.
That 915-meter granite cliff became the subject of the Academy Award-winning documentary Free Solo in 2019.