UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: French solo climber Alain Robert aka the French Spiderman conquers the tallest building in Abu Dhabi

France's "Spiderman" took on a 185-metre building in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Alain Robert wowed spectators when he scaled the skycraper, the tallest in the city, rope-free. French climber Alain Robert, aka the French Spiderman took on Abu Dhabi's tallest building today (February 23) in front of a crowd numbering the tens of thousands. The audience cringed and cheered in fear and amazement as Robert scaled the 185 meters of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority building without any safety mechanisms in place. Robert hasn't stopped climbing despite the fact that he is partly medically disabled and has permanent vertigo, which are the results of a childhood climbing accident. ''This guy really inspires me. Although he is 60 percent disabled and he's got permanent vertigo, he still does what he does, he's the number one world solo climber and lots of his stuff goes to charity, so I'm a big fan of Alain'', said Gamal Abdel-Wahab from Egypt. Relying solely on his hands, feet and determination, he made his way to the top, using tiny slots in the concrete structure as leverage. Robert's only tool was a little pouch clipped to his waist and filled with powder to keep his hands from getting moist and losing grip. ''If he weren't good and talented at what he does, he wouldn't go up. He's well trained and has practised lots. God forbid'', said Ahmad Mahmood Ibrahim an Emirati Citizen. Although Robert has repeatedly stared into the abyss during his career of about 20 years, fear is definitely still a factor to him, and is there with him at every climb. ''Fear in actual fact. I mean my day today wasn't enjoyable because starting from this morning until four in the afternoon I knew that I was still alive but maybe not for that much longer. You know, it's always put into question. Should I go for it? Will I still be alive this evening? I hope so but really ... I'm not that sure about it''. Alain Robert began his career when he was twelve. He climbed eight floors to get to his parents' apartment after he was locked out without the keys and with no one home. Today, he has become infamous for illegal climbing, and he has had more than a few run-ins with the law in various countries. He is also a renowned inspirational speaker, and often climbs for charity.

ITN Source | February 25, 2007

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