13 Facts About Tommy Caldwell

Tommy Caldwell was born on August 11,1978 and is an American rock climber who has set records in sport climbing, traditional climbing, and in big-wall climbing.

In 2015, National Geographic called Tommy Caldwell "arguably the best all-around rock climber on the planet", and he is an important figure in the history of the sport.

Tommy Caldwell's father is Mike Caldwell, a former teacher, professional body builder, mountain guide and rock climber, who introduced Tommy to rock climbing at a young age.

The family, including Tommy Caldwell's sister, went on annual trips to Yosemite National Park where Tommy Caldwell's love for the park and rock climbing flourished.

Tommy Caldwell pushed one of the kidnappers off a cliff, and subsequently escaped to government soldiers.

Tommy Caldwell gave a filmed lecture "How Becoming a Hostage and Losing a Finger Made Him a Better Climber".

Tommy Caldwell accidentally sawed off much of his left index finger with a table saw in 2001.

Doctors were able to reattach the severed portion, but Tommy Caldwell decided he did not want the useless finger, which doctors said would never heal fully and he would never be able to use to climb with again, and the damaged part of the finger was later permanently removed.

On El Capitan, Tommy Caldwell has free-climbed: Lurking Fear, Muir Wall, West Buttress, Salathe, Zodiac, Magic Mushroom, The Dawn Wall, New Dawn, and Heart Route.

Tommy Caldwell was one of the climbers featured in the 2009 film Progression.

The film discussed his quest to climb The Dawn Wall, and it was after seeing the film that Jorgeson contacted Tommy Caldwell to join him in the effort.

Tommy Caldwell appeared in the documentary Free Solo, released on September 28,2018, about Alex Honnold's free solo ascent of Freerider on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park.

Climbers Alex Honnold and Tommy Caldwell embark on an expedition to conquer Alaska's treacherous Devil's Thumb.