Czech Climber Scales Yosemite’s Dawn Wall in Record Time

Yesterday afternoon Adam Ondra, a 23-year-old Czech world champion sport climber, completed the longest, most rigorous free climb in the world in record time.

Ondra reached the summit of the 3,000-foot monolith in Yosemite National Park known as El Capitan in just eight days, scaling its Dawn Wall, a craggy, bouldery rock face considered the most difficult free climb on earth.

American climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson made the first free ascent in January 2015 in nineteen days. The duo’s accomplishment was considered an historic event, earning them worldwide media attendtion and a call from President Obama.

The Brno native began his climb at 3 a.m. on November 14, with the aim of beating Caldwell and Jorgeson’s time. Just over a week later, with the weather forcing him to take off Sunday, Ondra completed the final pitches around 4 p.m.

It was the first visit to Yosemite for Ondra who said of his decision to make the climb: “For me Yosemite is the only crag of historical importance where I haven’t been.That’s why I want to go there, and besides that, it looks so cool. And if I was a little piece of the history, that would be cool, but let’s see…“

“Thank you for showing us what’s possible once again. Through your hard work and determination, we’ve been able to witness another groundbreaking milestone in the world of climbing.”