Wikipedia

Alain Robert: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m →‎top: Wikilink
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile app edit Android app edit
(11 intermediate revisions by 8 users not shown)
Line 18:
}}
[[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]]. Known asNicknamed "the French [[Spider-Man]]" or "the Human Spider", Robert iscarries famous for hisout [[free solo climbing|free solo climbs]], scalingof skyscrapers using no climbing equipment except for a small bag of chalk and a pair of [[climbing shoes]].
 
==Strategy==
Because authorities do not normally give him permission for such dangerous exploits, Robert appearsevades at dawn on the site of whichever giant skyscraper he has chosensecurity to climb.access structures His exploits attract crowds of onlookers who stop to watch him climbsurreptitiously. As a consequence, Roberthe has been arrested many times, in various countries, by law enforcement officials waiting for him at the end of his climb. In recent yearsHowever, however, Roberthe has also done hissome climbs with permission and sponsorship.
 
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==
Line 33:
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>
Line 57:
On 7 December 2006, he finished the year climbing the Santa Fe World Plaza in [[Mexico City]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006-12-08 |title=Alain Robert, el "hombre araña" francés, escala un edificio de 117 metros en México |url=https://www.laverdad.es/murcia/20061208/gente/hombre-arana-frances-mexico_200612080802.html?ref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F |access-date=2023-06-13 |website=La Verdad |language=es-ES}}</ref>
 
On 23 February 2007, he legally climbed the headquarters building of Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) on the coast of [[Abu Dhabi]].<ref>{{Cite webnews |title=French spiderman up for challenge of Kingdom Tower |url=https://www.arabianbusiness.com/gcc/french-spiderman-up-for-challenge-of-kingdom-tower-415195 |websitenewspaper=ArabianBusinessArabian Business|date=11 August 2011 }}</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>
Line 117:
On 17 September 2022, he once again climbed the [[Tour Total]] in Paris, to celebrate his 60th birthday. He wanted to prove that "being 60 is nothing. You can still do sport, be active, do fabulous things."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/17/french-spiderman-climbs-48-storey-skyscraper-in-paris-aged-60|title=French Spiderman climbs 48-storey skyscraper in Paris aged 60|last=Moloney|first=Charlie|date=17 September 2022|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|access-date=24 December 2022}}</ref>
 
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]],. heHe 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==
Line 610:
|}
 
30/11/2023 - Climbing Burj Khalifa for the 2nd time, along sidealongside Alexis Landot.
 
==Accidents==
Line 624:
 
In 2004, he fell 2 metres (~6&nbsp;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.
==Rock Climbing Legacy==
In recent years Robert has expressed concern that his fame in buildering is overshadowing his accomplishments as a soloist Rock Climber. Alex Honnold has remarked that Robert's solos were quite bold for the day and were much closer to the cutting edge than today's free solos. "Pol Pot" at Verdon Gorge is a 7C+ about the same difficulty as the boulder problem on Freerider. Though Patrick Edlinger achieved fame in this regard, Robert also pushed the limits of free soloing at Verdon. A June 2017 listing of by Austin Howell shows a list of Robert's free solos in France but do not include U.S. climbs in locations such as Joshua Tree. "La Nuit du Lézard" at Buoux 8a+ is an example of one of the more difficult of these. Alain Robert joins the list of soloists such as [[John Gill (climber)|John Gill]], [[John Bachar]], Paul Preuaa, and [[Alex Honnold]].
 
==Books and documentaries {{anchor|Books}}==
Robert's autobiography, ''[[With Bare Hands]]'', was first published in English in 2008. It features his development into a famous urban climber from his days as a child and gives a deep insight into his philosophy and how he managed to overcome his disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=1455 |title=UKC Articles – Alain Robert – With Bare Hands |date=25 November 2008 |publisher=Ukclimbing.com |access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://maverickhouse.com/book.html?bid=98&title=With%20Bare%20Hands&no_cache=1 |title=With Bare Hands - Book |access-date=24 October 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207093534/http://maverickhouse.com/book.html?bid=98&title=With%20Bare%20Hands&no_cache=1 |archive-date=7 December 2008 }}</ref>
 
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>
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Robert"