Alex Honnold

**Alex Honnold**, born August 17, 1985, is an American rock climber best known for his breathtaking **free solo ascents of big walls**. His rise to fame came about in June 2017 when he became the first person ever to free solo a full route on El Capitan, an intimidating 2,900-foot route in Yosemite National Park. This feat was described by The New York Times as 'one of the great athletic feats of any kind, ever.' Honnold's record for the fastest ascent of the 'Yosemite Triple Crown' stood out as another highlight of his climbing career, finishing in less than 19 hours. Additionally, he won the Piolet d'Or in 2015 alongside Tommy Caldwell, cementing his position in the world of alpine climbing. Besides climbing, Honnold can also add 'author' to his list of achievements. He wrote a memoir in 2015 titled 'Alone on the Wall' and was the focus of an award-winning 2018 biographical documentary, 'Free Solo.' Outside his climbing career, Honnold is also involved in philanthropy, having formed the Honnold Foundation which promotes solar energy around the globe.