Alain Robert

When he was a child, his heroes were Bonatti, Rébuffat, Desmaison, some of the most famous rock-climbers of all time. Alain Robert was brought up with their lyric, epic adventures. He decided to become a top climber, but his parents did not much appreciate such a desire. He did not want them to find out that he started to learn the rudiments of climbing as a boy scout. He learnt how to move, how to handle the ropes, so as to become a climber like his heroes. When he was 12, he climbed eight floors, got home by the window as he had forgotten his keys…

His parents gave up. Alain used to train on the cliffs around Valence, his home town (south of France). He became a top climber. His motivation? Calculated risk. Mastering his fear… So Alain Robert decided to climb solo. This meant: climbing with his bare hands. No ropes for his protection. You fall, you die. He climbed solo the most extreme cliff faces. First of all he used to rope up, check out the moves and holds.

He had two serious accidents in 1982. Especially a 15-meter fall, head first. He was rappelling. His rope came undone. Coma (5 days) and multiple fractures: cranium, nose, wrists, elbows, pelvis, and heels. The prognosis was no joke at all: “this guy will never be able to climb again”. After effects: vertigo, caused by disease affecting the inner ear. Verdict of the French national health organization: disabled up to 66%.

Despite these challenges, he returned to free-solo climbing, and by 1994, he had climbed his very first skyscraper in Chicago, marking the inception of his identity as the "French Spiderman". This new venture was not only a testament to his resilience but also a successful career shift as he climbed around 200 of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, inspiring many with his keynote speeches on overcoming obstacles and resilience.

Alain Robert is known not only for his bold ascents but also for his contributions to charitable causes. For instance, in 1997, he climbed - without authorization - the world’s tallest skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur. The impact on the media was significant, and it led to a sponsored climb in Borneo with the Sabah Foundation, drawing a crowd of 15,000 people and raising over $150,000.

In total, Alain Robert has climbed over 200 skyscrapers and mythical monuments around the world. His notable climbs include the ascent of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi, witnessed by over 100,000 spectators. His speeches often revolve around themes such as perseverance, overcoming your fears, and navigating risks, drawing on his extensive experience as a climber who has continually pushed beyond conventional limits.

Topics

• Overcoming your fears
• Perseverance
• Navigating risks
• Alain Robert's own experiences