Who Is Alex Honnold? Discover the Climber Featured in Netflix’s Skyscraper Live
Alex Honnold is not only a skilled rock climber; he ranks among the most audacious free solo climbers in the world, tackling everything from immense rock formations to skyscrapers — with no safety measures in place.
Free solo climbing eliminates all safety gear except for climbing shoes and chalk. This means no ropes, no harnesses, nothing.
On Friday, January 23, Honnold is set to captivate audiences as he attempts to climb Taipei 101, a 101-story skyscraper in Taiwan that stands as the 11th tallest building globally. Netflix will feature this daring feat in a broadcast named Skyscraper Live.
Honnold has been preparing for this challenge for months and even minimized the risks during a January 22 interview with the AP.
“I don’t think it’ll be that extreme,” Honnold disclosed. “We’ll see. I think it’s at the sweet spot where it’s just challenging enough to be engaging for me and clearly an interesting ascent.”
Scroll down for everything you need to know about Alex Honnold.
Alex Honnold Began Climbing at Age 5
Born in 1985, Alex Honnold has been climbing virtually his entire life. He started in a climbing gym at age 5, often with his father’s assistance. He mentioned to The New York Times in 2015 that he and his dad spent “like, a million hours” in climbing gyms across California.
By his teenage years, he was competing in national and international youth climbing competitions.
Alex Honnold Was Featured in the 2018 Netflix Documentary ‘Free Solo’
The 2018 documentary Free Solo chronicled Alex Honnold’s endeavor to be the first climber to free solo El Capitan, a sheer rock face in Yosemite National Park, California. The film captured his training and the actual attempt, which took place in June 2017.
Free Solo garnered widespread acclaim, securing seven Primetime Emmy Awards in 2019.
Alex Honnold Tied the Knot with Fellow Climber Sanni McCandless
Alex Honnold met Sanni McCandless in November 2015 when she attended a talk he gave during his book tour. They were soon dating, and she played a significant role in the Free Solo documentary. The couple announced their engagement in 2019 and wed in September 2020.
They Are Proud Parents of Two Daughters
Alex Honnold and Sanni McCandless welcomed their daughters, June in 2022 and Alice in 2024.
In an interview with The Cut, published on the day of Skyscraper Live, he expressed that despite having children, he does not feel more anxious about the risks tied to his career.
“Implicit in the question is that I have more to live for, and, yeah, I have more to live for, and I’m still doing my very best to not die,” he stated.
Honnold added, “No one’s urging me to undertake more difficult challenges. Everyone seems to suggest, ‘Why don’t you stay at home and play with the kids?’ Thus, if I decide to do something, it has to be something I’m genuinely excited about.”
Alex Honnold Lived in a Van for a Decade
A true lover of the outdoors, Alex Honnold lived in a van for ten years, choosing to go “pretty much wherever the weather is pleasant.”
“It’s not like I love living in a car, but I adore the ability to stay in different locations,” he shared with GQ in a 2020 video. “I cherish my capacity to pursue favorable conditions everywhere while maintaining a level of comfort. That necessitates living in a car… If I could magically transport a house wherever I go, I would much prefer that.”
Nonetheless, the van has its advantages — everything is always within easy reach.
“Sometimes you find yourself in an upscale hotel with spacious rooms, and you have to trek a distance to the bathroom, and you think, ‘Wow, I wish I had my [pee] bottle,’” he humorously remarked. “Who wants to get up and walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night when one could just reach for the bottle?”
