Alex Honnold’s wife shares surprising reaction to death-defying skyscraper climb

26 Jan 2026 • 7:33 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Renowned free climber Alex Honnold scaled Taiwan's 1,667-foot Taipei 101 skyscraper without ropes over the weekend.
  • The climb, completed in 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 43 seconds, was part of a Netflix special for which Honnold was reportedly paid a mid-six-figure sum.
  • Honnold's wife, Sanni McCandless, expressed feeling "joyful" once the climb began, stating she was relieved not to be in his place.
  • McCandless acknowledged moments of concern but highlighted that their partnership is built on open discussion and mutual respect for his free-climbing passion.
  • She described their relationship as a supportive team effort, where they back each other's projects and decisions.

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