Alain Robert: The Real-Life Spider-Man's Urban Climbing Feats

The Real-Life Spider-Man

1. A Global Urban Climber

Alain Robert has climbed about 100 of the world's tallest buildings, including the Empire State Building in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, and the Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia. It is not surprising that people call him “The Real Spider-Man.”

2. Early Beginnings in France

Alain began climbing on the cliffs near where he lived in Valence, France. One day, when he was 12, he arrived home and realized he had forgotten his keys. He climbed up the side of the building and entered his family's flat through a window—eight floors up. That was when he decided to become a professional climber.

3. Overcoming Adversity

In his teens, he climbed all the difficult mountains in the Alps and found them "rather disappointing." However, he suffered a few bad falls. In 1982, he fell 15 metres and was in a coma for five days. Doctors said he would never climb again, yet Alain was back on a mountain after only six months.

4. The Thrill of the Impossible

In 1994, he climbed his first skyscraper in Chicago and realized he enjoyed doing what seemed impossible. He climbs without ropes or protective equipment—using only his hands and feet. While he is always careful, he admits that the danger is part of the attraction. He also usually climbs without permission, which means he is often arrested. "That's no problem," says Alain. "I prefer staying in prison to staying in hospital."

5. Iconic Climbs and Stunts

• 2002: For the release of the first Spider-Man film, Alain climbed the tallest skyscraper in Venezuela wearing a Spider-Man costume, watched live on TV by over 10 million people.
• 2007: He climbed the 88-storey Jin Mao Building in Shanghai, again dressed as Spider-Man, after which he was held in prison for five days.
• 2011: He climbed the tallest building in the world, the 828-metre Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai, in just over six hours.

6. The Philosophy of Climbing

Alain does not climb buildings just to provide entertainment. For him, climbing is a form of relaxation, but there is also a deeper meaning to what he does. "It gives me a sense of what is important on Earth," he says. "When you're facing your own death, money is not that important."