Asa child, Alain Robert was afraid of heights. One day, when he was 12, hereturned home from school. At the front door of his building, he looked for hiskeys. He didn't have them. It was 3:30, and his parents worked until 6:00 p.m.Robert looked at his apartment on the eighth floor. He saw an open window. Heclosed his eyes and pictured himself climbing the building. When he opened hiseyes, he told himself, "I can do it." A quarter of an hour later, hewas in his house, and his fear of heights was gone.
Today,Robert (known as the French Spideman) still climbs buildings. In 2004, heclimbed Taipei 101(the tallest building in the world at the time), and in 2011he climbed the Burj Khalifa Tower in Dubai. To reach the top of a building, Robertusually uses only his hands and special shoes. To climb the Burj Khalifa Tower,though, he was made to wear safety ropes.
Robertclimbs as a hobby. He also does it to make money for charity (for children andthe homeless). Climbing is his passion. Although many climbing accidents haveleft him seriously disabled, he has become one of the best solo climbers in theworld. Alain says in an interview, "We set ourselves limits, but we areall strong enough to aim higher, to achieve our goals. All we have to do isfind such strength within ourselves."
WhenRobert climbs, he wants to send a message to people. If you have adream—something you really want to do—it can become real. But you must be braveand keep trying. If something bad happens, don't give up. Close your eyes andtell yourself, "I can do it."
