Eiffel Tower rope climbing record smashed!
Anouk Garnier, a super-cool French athlete, just made history by climbing 110 metres to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower in just 18 minutes. But before we dive into Anouk’s incredible feat, let’s talk a bit about the iconic Eiffel Tower itself. Did you know that it was built by a guy named Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris? Yup, it’s true. It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the world and stands tall at a whopping 324 metres (that’s like stacking 11 school buses on top of each other!). Now, onto Anouk’s amazing achievement. Climbing a rope to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower might sound like something out of a superhero movie, but Anouk made it a reality. She’s not the first to attempt this daring feat, though. The previous record holder for the Eiffel Tower climb was another incredible athlete named Pierre Dubois, who reached the same height back in 2018. Locally, South African athlete Thomas van Tonder was the most recent record holder of a rope climb of 90 metres between the Soweto Towers in Johannesburg in 2020. But Anouk wasn’t just trying to break a record; she was aiming to inspire others to push their limits and chase their dreams. So, how did Anouk prepare for such an epic climb? Well, it wasn’t easy. She spent months training like a champ, building up her strength and endurance. Imagine doing pull-ups, push-ups and squats every single day! Plus, she practised climbing on ropes of all sizes, getting used to the feeling of dangling high above the ground. But why did Anouk set out to conquer the Eiffel Tower? For her, it was about proving that anything is possible with hard work, determination and a sprinkle of courage. She wanted to show children like you and me that no dream is too big and no obstacle is too high to overcome. Anouk, who is an obstacle course racer, said she also did the climb to raise money for cancer prevention and support, as her mother was diagnosed with the disease. She will also be carrying the Olympic torch in Marseille in May. So, here’s to Anouk Garnier, the new queen of rope climbing. Her incredible journey reminds us to reach for the stars and never give up, no matter how steep the climb may seem. Who knows? Maybe one day, it’ll be one of us standing on top of the world, looking down from the second floor of the Eiffel Tower! Until then, keep dreaming big and reaching for new heights.