Boyhood dreams inspire real-life French Spiderman

By Dominique Vidalon

PARIS (Reuters) - When Alain Robert was a child, he dreamed of being like his heroes, Robin Hood and Zorro, the fearless outlaws who defend the weak against mighty villains.

Now aged 45, Robert is known around the globe as the French "Spiderman", a real life daredevil who risks his life scaling some of the world's tallest buildings, often with no permission and always without rope for protection.

Robert is a solo climber, which means he uses only his bare hands, a pair of climbing shoes, and sometimes a bag of powdered chalk to wipe off the sweat.

In this high-adrenaline discipline known as "urban solo freestyle" or "buildering", Robert relies on his technique and his strength and any support a building can offer, drainpipes, window ledges or frames, to hoist his small frame up.

When Robert, a wiry man with long blond hair, talks of his motivation, he speaks of a death-defying adventure that requires extreme focus and commitment.

"Solo climbing is demanding. You cannot make a mistake, you cannot fall, it's a life and death game," he told Reuters.

He recalls a childhood full of fears and his determination to overcome them.

"I was scared of heights. I was a shy and introverted child. I was afraid of everything but I had the will to fight to get where I wanted. I decided to become a little bit courageous and climbing seemed the way to do it," he said.