A little breeze makes the rope ripple. But not enough to postpone the ascent which is being prepared under the Eiffel Tower this Wednesday April 10. The sky is blue. This morning mist escapes from mouths and from lips a name, that of Anouk Garnier. Down jacket on her back, the world obstacle course champion is warming up. She is about to break the world record for rope climbing.
“I’m afraid she won’t make it”
The athlete has been waiting for this day for a year. The last two weeks have been the hardest. The challenge has been postponed several times. Too much wind. The quasi-Olympic preparation of the future torchbearer takes a hit. “It was hard,” admits his mother, Roselyne. One day when the climb was still postponed, she suggested that he go to a spa. “Luckily we were there…”.
“We” is this small group of loved ones who shout “Anouk” in unison from the square in front of the Eiffel Tower. His mother, his brother, his grandparents and a handful of friends. “There are never any problems with her,” says her mother. It will, as always.” Everyone is confident. Except Monique, his grandmother. She hasn’t slept a wink all night and wants to vomit. “I’m afraid she won’t make it.”
“We like to work with people motivated by achievement”
8:45 a.m. It’s time. Anouk cuddles her loved ones, swallows a compote and checks her harness. His mother starts a stopwatch. She leaves the ground to achieve the feat. Beat the 90m world record held by South African Thomas Van Tonder and climb to 110 meters. Under one of the emblems of France. “I found that his project made sense,” explains Stéphane Roussin, responsible for events at the Eiffel Tower. We like to work with people motivated by achievement.” He and Anouk established a real friendship and spent hours on the phone. “Reassure” her, “keep her safe”, that’s his role today.
So when the rope starts to wind up from the first meters of ascent, and Anouk points out with a hint of panic in his voice, Stéphane Roussin does the job. “Don’t worry about it, I’ll take care of it.” She needs to focus on climbing.
Every ten movements, Anouk takes a break. This is a record for length, not speed. Which doesn’t stop him from going fast. Grandma Monique hardly sees her little daughter anymore. “She’s going up,” says her husband. “Well, I can’t wait for her to come down!” she said. Out of our three grandchildren, we only have one like that, fortunately.”
“The problem is that success will give him other ideas”
Home stretch. Applause rings out from his small fan club. Anouk’s best friend, Anaïs Royer, comments on the feat live on Instagram. “2 m and it’s over!” “, “She’s there, she’s going to touch it, it’s done!!! », “Wooooo”
A not trivial but successful attempt for Anouk Garnier, former obstacle course champion (Spartan race, etc.) who succeeded in her bet this Wednesday morning. The Paris 2024 ambassador broke the world record for rope climbing by reaching the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower at a height of 110 meters. THE YOUNG
With bright eyes, Anouk jumps into the arms of her loved ones. Does she cry often? “Never,” said his grandmother. “It’s incredible the image she represents,” said her brother. I will always be there to support her.” Their mother has cancer. So Anouk chose through the project to support the fight against the disease. “She said things she had never said to me,” her mother confides. I’m so proud.”
The athlete never doubted. “The moral is when you dream you have to believe in it,” she says of the mascara under her eyes. You have to give yourself the means, if you dream big, you can do great things.” She thought of her mother on the rope. She had pain in her arm, pain in her calf. At one point his shoelace comes undone. “At worst I’ll end up barefoot,” she said to herself. Undeniable inner strength and a new 110m world record.
“The problem is that being successful will give him other ideas,” says his best friend, Anaïs Royer. “The Good Mother? » says Roselyne, Anouk’s mother. Too much wind. Not twice. She will still be there to carry the Olympic flame this summer. And for the rope, it will possibly be Japan. “Tokyo Tower” is double ours. Or Dubai. Regardless, one thing is certain, Anouk has not finished reaching the summits.
