Climbing Gold

Alain Robert: The French Spiderman

Jan 9, 2026
Join Alain Robert, the 'French Spider-Man' and a legendary urban climber, as he shares exhilarating tales from his life of free soloing world-famous skyscrapers. Discover how he transitioned from climbing challenging rock routes to scaling buildings, often illegally, and the thrilling stories behind his 170+ arrests. Alain reflects on the mental focus needed while climbing, his battles with injuries, and the adrenaline rush of climbing in front of live crowds. His daring adventures continue to inspire climbers and thrill-seekers alike!
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ANECDOTE

Climbing With A 'Silly' Body

  • Alain talks about severe injuries: nerve damage in two fingers and inner ear damage that affects balance.
  • Despite disabilities he continued to perform high-level free solos and building climbs.
ANECDOTE

Childhood Fear Turned To Courage

  • Alain's first climbing exposure came from a film and childhood imagination, then he free-soloed building exteriors as a child.
  • That early building soloing seeded his later focus on skyscrapers as a natural extension of his training.
ANECDOTE

First Big Building: A Film Commission

  • Alain's first major building climb came via a film project that sent him to US cities to test potential.
  • He chose to climb illegally when approvals failed and accepted possible jail time as part of the risk.
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