Alain Robert
World-famous free solo climber and known as “the human spiderman”, author and speaker
SHORTLIST
Alain Robert Biography
Motivational and Key Note Speaker – These days, Alain is fast becoming one of the world’s most inspirational and compelling ‘Motivational, Keynote, Risk and After-dinner’ speakers too; having given talks internationally for a number of global corporations. His amazing life story is truly inspirational. In 1982 when he was 19, he was a famous climber in France, regularly featuring on the covers of its national magazines. However, a major fall in that year, while assisting a group of young climbers, left him with many broken bones and in a coma.
After months in hospital undergoing numerous procedures, his surgeon, who was a climber too, told Alain he would never climb again. He said that in all his years he had never seen such a shattered body and hands.
On leaving hospital Alain returned to his hometown. His career was in ruins. In fact, he was so weakened from his many injuries that he could not even lift up a cup of coffee. Also, as a consequence of the fall he was left permanently 66% disabled and suffering from vertigo and epilepsy.
However, after 2 weeks back at home feeling sorry he decided he just had to do something to help speed up his recovery. He figured that if he had 34% of his body still functioning, then he was determined to try to get the maximum from it.
The Wall – Near his home Alain found a wall. It was only 3 meters [10ft] high, but it was more than 250 meters [800ft] long. His plan was not to climb up the wall, but to climb across it. For the first couple of months all he could do was go to the wall and lean against it. Nevertheless, he continued visiting the wall 4 times every day ‘just to lean against it’.
Eventually some strength began to return and he was able to move his hands on the wall. Each time, he would mark the point he had reached with chalk. His plan was to keep pushing a little further, then further. Although he continued to visit the wall 4 times every day, it nevertheless took him 2 years to finally make it all the way across its 250 meters width. In those 2 years he had made around 3000 trips to the wall.
Incredibly, after this time and despite of his disabilities, this phenomenal perseverance had turned him into an even better climber than he was before his accident. He was able to return to free-solo climbing mountains, cliffs and gorges. Then in 1995 in the USA he climbed his first skyscraper. Alain has since gone on to climb 160 of the tallest buildings on earth, with nothing more than his bare hands and a little chalk-dust.
In a sport where few climbers become famous and none make any real money, Alain’s heroic feats have not only made him wealthy, they have also raised him to international celebrity status. His friends and fans include members of royal families, sheikhs, world leaders and celebrities. Climbers worldwide acknowledge him as being the greatest climber who ever lived, and the incredible Alain Robert has now been included in the World Hall of Fame of Top 100 athletes all time. Others in the list include Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pele, Mark Spitz, Maradona, etc.
Alain’s official climbs can attract colossal attendance –
His ascent of the National Bank of Abu Dhabi attracted 150,000 spectators and was shown live on TV.
When he was engaged by the Russian Government to climb Moscow State University, in celebration of the city’s birthday, he was watched by 100,000 live spectators and shown live on TV.
In fact, a number of his climbs have attracted more than 100,000 live spectators.
His ascent of the Sapphire Mall, Istanbul, attracted 400 x TV and media crews and was shown live on 4 x TV stations in that region of the world.
His 2015 climb of the world’s tallest ‘twisted’ tower (Cayan Tower, Dubai) achieved unprecedented global media coverage.
Alain’s episode of CNN’s ‘Revealed Show’ went to a world audience of 700 million and was repeated.
His ascent of the world’s tallest building the Burj Khalifa, Dubai was global front-page news.
Alain’s ascents almost without exception become worldwide news events. As a speaker, Alain Robert’s achievements and his incredible ‘life and near death’ experiences enthral audiences. Gasps of astonishment are heard as he describes his climbs and audiences invariably give the charismatic Frenchman standing ovations.
Alain’s career is now being steered toward the movies, with a life story in the pipeline, possibly to be called ‘The Wall’, and a role pencilled in for the 2019 James Bond 007 production etc.
The amazing Alain Robert has faced immense challenges. Far greater challenges than most of us ever experience. Yet with belief, focus, dedication and perseverance he turned his life around…
‘Spiderman Alain Robert has reached way past his dreams’… He is a true living legend! History will recall him as a 21st Century global icon, ranking him with other greats of history like – Harry Houdini, Charles Blondin and Evel Knievel.
Alain Robert’s talks are fresh, exciting and truly inspirational.
Alain Robert Videos

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SPEAKER TYPE
SPEAKING THEMES
Conference & Keynote Themes:
Business
Leadership
Risk, Safety and Quality
People
Mindfulness and Stress Management
Motivational Themes:
Overcoming Adversity
Peak Performance
Sports and Adventure
After Dinner Themes:
Culture and Arts
Motivation and Inspiration
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Alain Robert‘s Topics
Inspiration and motivation
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Overcoming adversity
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Books by Alain Robert
