At 9:10 am on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, French athlete Anouk Garnier, a sports coach and ambassador of the Paris 2024 volunteer program, set a new world record by climbing a 361-foot rope. Right under the Eiffel Tower, in the center of its esplanade, the athlete rope-climbed from the ground to the second floor of the Tower. Organized in partnership with Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), produced by Puzzle Media and supported by the City of Paris, the challenge has been named “Eiffel Tower Monumental 100”.
New world record for both men and women
Anouk Garnier’s achievement is all the more extraordinary in that she set a new world record for both men and women. The previous men’s record was held by the South African Thomas Van Tondre with 295.3 feet, and the women’s record by Danish athlete Ida Mathilde Steensgaard with 85.3 feet. The Dane’s record, set in Copenhagen in July 2022, inspired Anouk Garnier’s iconic challenge. And in what better place to achieve it than the Eiffel Tower, which has inspired so many athletic endeavors!
Preparation for the challenge involved long and intense training for the athlete, and a feasibility study into technical and safety aspects by Société d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel.
It’s a crazy dream come true
Endurance and safety
Anouk’s performance was truly exceptional because rope climbing is a physically demanding sport for the entire body, requiring the climber to manage muscle fatigue and pain, especially in the hands, and severely testing physical and mental endurance. Additionally, at 82 feet, the sheer weight of the rope exerts too much pressure below the climber and so, to enable her to continue to lock her feet with the rope comfortably, the rope had to be pulled up as she climbed. A pulley system was installed to reduce the rope’s weight (154 lbs in total) by pulling it up gradually. To ensure the ascent went smoothly and to guarantee optimal safety conditions, Anouk Garnier wore a harness and was attached to a safety line. A team of five height safety professionals supervised her climb.
Although beating the clock was not the principal goal of the record, Anouk’s ascent time of 18 minutes is certainly worth a mention!
This year, as the whole of Paris is celebrating sport, another challenge has been achieved with brio, adding to the list, and we are proud to honor women’s sport and striving to surpass oneself. Bravo, Anouk!
During Anouk Garnier’s feat, French street artist Jo Di Bona, who is also an ambassador of the Paris 2024 volunteer program, created a fresco capturing this historic moment for posterity. The artist had to create his work of art at the same time as Anouk Garnier accomplished her challenge. And that’s what he did!
A seasoned athlete, Anouk Garnier is also a sports coach and fitness trainer who has specialized in obstacle course racing (OCR) for over eight years. She has won more than 25 international medals: twice world OCR champion in her age category, European champion in the Spartan team race, and twice French OCR champion.
