On April 11, French athlete Anouk Garnier (34 years old) set a world record by climbing a rope 100 meters to the second level of the Eiffel Tower in just 18 minutes.
Speaking to the media, Garnier expressed her emotions, stating: “It’s a dream come true. It’s amazing.”
French athlete Anouk Garnier sets a world record by climbing a rope to the second level of the Eiffel Tower in just 18 minutes, in Paris, France, on April 10, 2024. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN).
Equipped with a safety harness, the two-time world champion in obstacle course racing completed her journey to conquer one of the most iconic landmarks of Paris in front of thousands of fans.
Anouk Garnier initially aimed to climb the rope in 20 minutes, but she actually finished in 18 minutes. She shared: “I never gave up despite the many ups and downs on the path to achieving this record. The weather was not always in my favor, and I also had to convince sponsors to join this grand project. But I never stopped believing. It was a whole year of preparation, not just an 18-minute climb. There is a lot of pressure when you strive for such great things. But once you achieve your goal, the feeling is absolutely exhilarating.”
French athlete Anouk Garnier (34 years old) sets a world record by climbing a rope 100 meters to the second level of the Eiffel Tower in just 18 minutes. (Photo: AP).
The previous world record was held by South African athlete Thomas Van Tonder, who climbed 90 meters on a rope at the Soweto Tower in Johannesburg in 2020. Danish athlete Ida Mathilde Steensgaard held the women’s record after climbing 26 meters at the Copenhagen Opera House in 2022.
Garnier stated that she was inspired by Steensgaard’s success and wanted to take on this challenge to raise funds for the Cancer Federation after doctors diagnosed her mother with the disease.
Currently, Garnier plans to return to obstacle racing and will participate in the Olympic torch relay in Marseille on May 9 before becoming an ambassador for the volunteer program of the Paris Summer Olympics this year.
