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Alainspidey (talk | contribs) I did empathize my career as a rock climber freesoloing some of the hardest route in the world at the beginning of the nineties Tags: Reverted nowiki added Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
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| image = Alain Robert (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Robert
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1962|8|7}}
| birth_place = [[Digoin]], France
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[[File:Alain Robert ascend of Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong - 34.jpg|thumb|Robert climbing the [[Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong]] in 2008.]]
'''Alain Robert''' ({{IPA-fr|alɛ̃ ʁɔbɛʁ}}; born as '''Robert Alain Philippe''' on 7 August 1962) is a French [[rock climbing|rock climber]] and [[buildering|urban climber]].
==Strategy==
Because authorities do not normally give him permission for such dangerous exploits, Robert
His rock-climbing physical training and technique allow him to climb using the small protrusions of building walls and windows (such as window ledges and frames). Many of his climbs provide him no opportunity to rest and can last several hours. He sometimes has a small bag of climbing chalk powder fastened around his waist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0wmLzS3dt4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/g0wmLzS3dt4 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=The Awesome Alain Robert |date=10 August 2006 |publisher=YouTube |access-date=9 October 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Career==
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Robert has climbed landmarks including the [[Burj Khalifa]], [[Eiffel Tower]],<ref name="douglas_1997">Ed Douglas, "Vertigo? No problem for Spiderman", ''Manchester Guardian Weekly'', 11 May 1997, p. 30</ref> the [[Sydney Opera House]] and the [[Montparnasse Tower]]<ref name="douglas_1997" /> as well as other of the world's tallest skyscrapers, most of them performed free-solo.
On 20 March 1997, he climbed the [[Petronas Twin Towers]] in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia but was arrested at the 60th floor, 28 floors below the top.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}<ref>{{Cite web |title="Spiderman" nabbed climbing Malaysian twin towers |website=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKLR2413/}}</ref>
On 16 April 1998, he climbed the {{convert|23|m|0|adj=on}} high [[Luxor Obelisk]] in Paris.<ref>{{Cite web|title=France: Paris: 'Spiderman' Alain Robert Strikes Again|url=http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b60c233d748245106c28c4829013bce2|access-date=2021-10-02|website=www.aparchive.com}}</ref>
In June 1999, Robert climbed the {{convert|170|m|0|adj=on}} [[Marriott Hotel]] in Warsaw.<ref>{{
On 20 August 1999, he climbed the [[Sears Tower]], the second man to do so after [[Dan Goodwin]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Writer|first=Charlie Meyerson, Tribune Staff|title=Frenchman Arrested After Climbing Sears Tower|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-08-20-9908250026-story.html|access-date=2021-10-02|website=chicagotribune.com|date=20 August 1999 |language=en-US}}</ref> However, Robert performed the climb with no equipment other than a chalk bag and shoes, while Goodwin used suction cups and sky hooks, wearing a homemade Spider-Man suit.<ref>{{cite web|title=Willis Tower|url=http://www.justonebadcentury.com/chicago_cubs_history_47.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320062017/http://www.justonebadcentury.com/chicago_cubs_history_47.asp|archive-date=20 March 2012|access-date=4 July 2011}}</ref>
On 21 February 2003, he legally climbed the {{convert|200|m|0|adj=on}} National Bank of Abu Dhabi, [[UAE]], watched by about 100,000 spectators. It became more frequent for Robert to be paid to scale buildings as part of publicity efforts.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
On 12 May 2003, he was paid approximately $18,000 to climb the {{convert|95|m|0|adj=on}} [[Lloyd's building]] to promote the premiere of the movie ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' on the British television channel ''[[Sky Movies]]''.<ref>{{
On 19 October 2004, he scaled the {{convert|187|m|0|adj=on}} headquarters of the French oil company [[Total S.A.|Total]] while wearing a Spider-Man costume.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}
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On 1 September 2006, he climbed the tallest building in Lithuania and the Baltic States – [[Europa Tower]], {{convert|148|m|0}}, in Vilnius. Wearing a black suit and using a safety rope, which he detached several times, he reached the observation deck of the building, {{convert|114|m|0}}, in 40 minutes.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}}
In 2006 he also climbed [[Torre Vasco da Gama]] in Portugal as part of an advertisement for [[Optimus Telecomunicações|Optimus]], a national mobile operator.<ref>{{
On 7 December 2006, he finished the year climbing the Santa Fe World Plaza in [[Mexico City]].<ref>{{
On 23 February 2007, he legally climbed the headquarters building of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) on the coast of [[Abu Dhabi]].<ref>{{
On 20 March 2007, he again climbed the [[Petronas Twin Towers]], marking the tenth anniversary of his previous ascent of this building. Upon reaching the 60th floor, he allowed himself to be apprehended. He flew the Malaysian flag and drew applause from waiting police, fire crew and media representatives before handing himself in. He was handcuffed and escorted off the premises before being driven to a police station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1877316.htm|title='Spiderman' nabbed climbing Malaysian twin towers|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=21 March 2007|access-date=21 March 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070328183453/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1877316.htm|archive-date=28 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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In November 2012, Robert was spotted inside [[The Shard]] in London. The building's owners subsequently obtained an injunction preventing Robert from ever returning.<ref>{{cite news|author=Liam O'Brien |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forget-the-green-goblin-shard-to-stop-french-spiderman-alain-robert--with-an-injunction-8372254.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206021816/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/forget-the-green-goblin-shard-to-stop-french-spiderman-alain-robert--with-an-injunction-8372254.html |archive-date=2012-12-06 |url-access=limited |url-status=live |title=Forget the Green Goblin... Shard to stop French 'Spiderman' Alain Robert – with an injunction|work=The Independent |date=1 December 2012 |access-date=9 August 2013}}</ref>
On 27 March 2014, he climbed the [[Tour Ariane]] outside Paris in 45 minutes. Onlookers and police gathered to watch his climb. He was arrested by police and later released without being charged.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/french-spiderman-scales-paris-tower-n63976 |title=French 'Spiderman' Scales Paris Tower |work=NBC News |date=27 March 2014 |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.msn.com/offbeat/video?videoid=7b2ee21f-353c-5d46-29d5-cee5b5fdde1a |title=News |publisher=News.msn.com |date=31 July 2015 |access-date=9 October 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
On 12 April 2015, he climbed the [[Cayan Tower]] in [[Dubai]], a 307-meter tall twisted building, in 70 minutes.<ref>[http://www.thenational.ae/uae/dubai/a-new-guinness-world-record-by-the-french-spiderman-in-dubai---video/www.thenational.ae]{{dead link|date=October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=cynara |url=http://cctv-africa.com/2015/04/13/french-spiderman-climbs-cayan-tower-in-70-minutes/ |title=French Spiderman climbs Cayan tower in 70 minutes |publisher=cctv-africa.com |access-date=9 October 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018190813/http://cctv-africa.com/2015/04/13/french-spiderman-climbs-cayan-tower-in-70-minutes/ |archive-date=18 October 2015 }}</ref>
On 23 April 2016, he climbed the Esentai Tower in [[Almaty]], [[Kazakhstan]]. The Esentai Tower is the second highest building in Kazakhstan; it is 162 meters tall and is used as the Ritz Carlton Hotel and for offices.<ref>{{
On 25 November 2016, he climbed the [[Torre Agbar]], a 38-storey skyscraper in [[Barcelona]], Spain.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-25 |title=El 'Spiderman' francés escala de nuevo la Torre Agbar |url=https://www.elmundo.es/cataluna/2016/11/25/58385f77e5fdea7a0b8b45d7.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=ELMUNDO |language=es}}</ref>
On 6 June 2018, he climbed the [[Lotte World Tower]], a 123-storey skyscraper in [[Seoul]], South Korea.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2018-06-07 |title='French Spiderman' Arrested Trying to Scale Seoul Skyscraper |url=https://time.com/5303989/french-spiderman-alain-robert-seoul/ |access-date=2023-06-12 |magazine=Time |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-06-06 |title='French Spiderman' arrested for illegally climbing Seoul's skyscraper |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/06/251_250214.html |access-date=2023-06-12 |website=koreatimes |language=en}}</ref>
On 25 October 2018, he climbed the [[Heron Tower]], a 46-storey skyscraper in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/human-spider-alain-robert-begins-754ft-climb-in-city-of-london-11535240?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter|title = 'Human Spider' Alain Robert arrested after climbing 754ft Heron Tower in City of London}}</ref>
On 29 January 2019, he climbed the [[G.T. International Tower]], a 181-meter tall skyscraper in [[Makati]], [[Metro Manila]], [[Philippines]]. He was arrested upon finishing his descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/29/19/french-spiderman-alain-robert-climbs-makati-skyscraper|title='French Spiderman' Alain Robert climbs Makati skyscraper|date=29 January 2019}}</ref>
On 16 August 2019, he once again climbed the [[Cheung Kong Centre]] in Hong Kong. He hung a banner with the Hong Kong and China flags above a handshake near the top of the building.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/extreme-sports/article/3023031/french-spider-man-joins-hong-kong-protest-scaling-li|title=French Spider-Man Alain Robert hangs handshake banner from Hong Kong skyscraper owned by Li Ka-shing|last=Agnew|first=Mark|date=16 August 2019|work=South China Morning Post|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-16/man-climbs-li-ka-shing-s-hong-kong-skyscraper-hangs-peace-flag|title=man-climbs-li-ka-shing-s-hong-kong-skyscraper-hangs-peace-flag|date=16 August 2019|work=Bloomberg|access-date=16 August 2019}}</ref>
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On 23 November 2021, he once again climbed the [[Skyper]] building in Frankfurt, before being arrested by German authorities.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Germany|first=hessenschau de, Frankfurt|date=2021-11-23|title=Französischer Spiderman erklimmt Frankfurter Wolkenkratzer|url=https://www.hessenschau.de/panorama/franzoesischer-spiderman-erklimmt-frankfurter-wolkenkratzer,frankfurt-hochhaus-kletterer-spiderman-alain-robert-100.html|access-date=2021-11-24|website=hessenschau.de|language=de}}</ref>
On 17 September 2022, he once again climbed the [[Tour Total]] in Paris, to celebrate his 60th birthday
On 5 March 2024, he again climbed the G.T. International Tower in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, to support the [[territorial disputes in the South China Sea]]. He was then again arrested by the Makati City Police upon finishing his descent. Despite claiming he was mistreated by the Police, the authorities denied being harsh on him, and clarified that they're not allowed to give him any special treatment even if he's familiar. However, Philippine netizens' comments on social media were overwhelmingly positive and were actually in awe of his stunt, with the majority even being thankful for performing his act with a geopolitically relevant motivation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://mb.com.ph/2024/3/5/french-spider-man-climbs-makati-tower-anew|last=Garcia|first=Patrick|title='French Spider-Man' climbs Makati tower anew, cops wait for him anew|newspaper=[[Manila Bulletin]]|date=March 5, 2024|access-date=March 6, 2024}}</ref>
==Notable climbs==
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|{{Hs|1996-01-01}}1996
|{{Hs|0227}}{{Convert|227|m}}
|Arrested upon completing descent
|▼
|-
|[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, United States]]
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|{{Hs|0188}}{{Convert|188|m}}
|Legal climb, promotion for [[Sinara Group]]
▲|-
|[[Seoul]], South Korea
|[[Lotte World Tower]]
|{{Hs|2018-06-06}}6 June 2018
|{{Hs|0555}}{{Convert|555|m}}
|Arrested.
|-
|[[Makati]], Philippines
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|-
|Frankfurt, Germany
|[[Skyper]] building<ref name="The Guardian"/>
|{{Hs|2019-09-28}}2019/21
|{{Hs|0153}}{{Convert|153|m}}
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|-
|Barcelona, Spain
|[[Torre Glòries|Torre Agbar]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/vida/20200304/473964655202/alain-robert-spiderman-frances-torre-agbar-barcelona-temeridad-video-seo-ext.html|title=El 'spiderman' francés vuelve a escalar la torre Agbar de Barcelona'|date=4 March 2020|access-date=4 March 2020|work=La Vanguardia}}</ref>
|{{Hs|2020-03-03}}2020
|{{Hs|0153}}{{Convert|144|m}}
|Detained and fined
|}
30/11/2023 - Climbing Burj Khalifa for the 2nd time, alongside Alexis Landot.
==Accidents==
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On 18 January 1982, at 19, he fell {{convert|15|m|0}} when his anchor and rope gave way during training. He fractured his wrists, heels and nose and underwent three operations.
On 29 September 1982, at 20, he fell {{convert|15|m|0}} when his rope came undone while [[abseiling]]. He was in a coma for five days and fractured both forearms, his elbow, pelvis and nose.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clarke |first=Owen |date=2023-05-26 |title=Alain Robert Interview: Legendary Climber Speaks on Free Soloing |url=https://climbinghouse.com/alain-robert-interview-free-soloing/ |access-date=2023-05-29 |website=Climbing House |language=en-US}}</ref> His elbow was also dislocated and a nerve was damaged, leaving him partially paralyzed. He also suffered [[cerebral edema]] and [[Vertigo (medical)|vertigo]]. He underwent six operations on his hands and elbow.
In 1993, he fell {{convert|8|m|0}} while showing students how to rely on their legs when climbing. He kept his hands behind his back on an easy route but lost his balance and fell headfirst, shattering both wrists. He went into another coma and spent two months in the hospital.
In 2004, he fell 2 metres (~6 ft) when climbing a traffic light whilst posing for a photo in an interview. He landed on his elbow and needed forty stitches; just one month later he climbed the world's tallest skyscraper at the time, [[Taipei 101]], as part of its official opening week.
==Books and documentaries {{anchor|Books}}==
Robert's autobiography, ''
The book was released for the Asian market in April by Blacksmith Books in Hong Kong with the subtitle "The true story of Alain Robert, the real-life Spiderman" ({{ISBN|9789889979928}}). In September it was released by [[Maverick House Publishers]] in the UK for the English language market across Europe. This edition has the subtitle "The Story of the Human Spider" ({{ISBN|9781905379552}}).<ref>[http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/9789889979928.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070830231027/http://www.blacksmithbooks.com/9789889979928.htm|date=30 August 2007}}</ref>
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==External links==
* {{IMDB name}}
* [https://www.alainrobert.com Official Website] – includes a number of photos
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvq0T_obaqs Audio interview with Alain Robert] by amateur [[podcast]]ers ''Happy Trail Mix''
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