Alain Robert

Alain Robert is a French rock climber and urban climber, born in 1962 and nicknamed the French Spider-Man or the Human Spider. He is known for free solo climbs of skyscrapers and other tall structures using no equipment other than a small bag of chalk and a pair of climbing shoes, relying on the strength and technique he developed as a rock climber. His ascents include the Burj Khalifa, the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera House, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Sears Tower. Authorities often do not grant permission for these climbs, so he has been arrested several times in different countries, although he has also completed some climbs legally and with sponsorship, such as Taipei 101 before its opening in 2004.