Wolfgang Güllich

Wolfgang Güllich (1960 to 1992) was a German rock climber, considered one of the greatest and most influential climbers in the history of the sport. He dominated sport climbing after his 1984 ascent of Kanal im Rücken, the first redpoint of an 8b route, and went on to set more new hardest-grade breakthroughs than any other climber, including Punks in the Gym in 1985, the first 8b+, Wallstreet in 1987, the first 8c, and Action Directe in 1991, the first 9a. He made the first free solo at grade 7c with Weed Killer in 1986 and soloed Separate Reality the same year, and he made first ascents of big wall routes on the Trango Towers and the Paine Towers. With his long-time partner Kurt Albert he revolutionised climbing training, notably through the campus board. He died in a car accident at age 31.