With rock climbing now part of the Olympic Games and documentaries like Free Solo breaking into Netflix’s Top 10, the world is learning more about this head-game-heavy sport.
Alex Honnold has firmly made his mark and become a household name—whether you climb or not. After breaking records free-soloing El Capitan ( 2,900 ft in 3 hours and 56 minutes) in Yosemite, among many other legendary sends, he has now made history yet again.
This weekend felt like the Super Bowl for climbers, as Honnold successfully free-soloed one of the world’s most iconic skyscrapers, becoming the first person in history to climb Taipei 101 without a rope or harness. By doing so, he completed the highest free-solo ascent of an urban structure ever recorded. The climb took 91 minutes and 30 seconds. His wife, Sanni McCandless said that she first heard about Honnold’s desire to free-solo the skyscraper over 12 years ago.
Watching this live was equal parts diabolical and wildly entertaining. The only issue I had with the production of the live event was the commentary. In sports broadcasts like the Super Bowl or NFL games, commentators are almost always former players, which brings credibility and a deeper understanding of the action—so why not apply the same standard here? The event was hosted by Elle Duncan, and while she wasn’t a bad host by any means, this was ultimately a climbing event. Having a professional climber in that role would have added real value.
What also felt unnecessary was the inclusion of a WWE athlete on the panel (Seth Rollins). If anything, the focus should have remained on voices grounded in the sport, such as Emily Harrington and Pete Woods. Engineer Mark Rober was a safe add to the panel and lent great expertise from his tech perspective. I can’t speak for every climber, but it’s immediately noticeable when the language and nuances of climbing aren’t fully understood. Pairing Harrington with another experienced climber would have elevated the broadcast. Even someone like Jared Leto or Jason Momoa—both of whom climb and are known to the general public—would have made more sense. Professional climbers commenting on a climbing event simply feels like the natural fit.
Commentators aside – In my opinion, there has never been an athlete like Alex Honnold. His brain is as strong as his muscles and grip. Not only was he risking his life, but he was smiling and clearly having fun while doing it. Waving to viewers on the other side of office windows as he scaled the skyscraper was a whole other level of insanity—yet also wonder.
Honnold even laughed at a sign that read, “A V2 in my gym.” If you’re a climber, you’ll get the joke. It was a joyful moment amid intense anxiety and anticipation as he worked toward the send.
We can’t wait to see what Honnold does next. And as a climber, I’m just happy the general public now knows what smearing is.
- Skyscraper Live. Alex Honnold climbing in Taipei, Taiwan for Skyscraper Live. Cr. Chong kok-yew/Netflix © 2026
