Alex Honnold became internationally renowned in 2017 after completing one of the most extraordinary feats in climbing history: he became the first person to free solo an entire route up El Capitan, the 3,000‑foot granite monolith in Yosemite National Park.
Climbing without ropes, harnesses, or any protective gear, he relied solely on physical precision and mental control, turning a route that normally requires extensive equipment into a breathtaking display of human capability.
His achievement drew global attention and was later captured in the 2018 documentary Free Solo, which won an Academy Award and introduced millions of people to both Honnold’s skill and the extreme risks inherent in his style of climbing.