One Mistake Means Certain Death: These Fearless Athletes All Have One Thing in Common, and It Might Not Be What You Think

From free solo rock climbing to jumping motorcycles, it takes a special kind of person to put their life on the line for an athletic feat.

Alone On the Wall

Alex Honnold is the world’s leading free solo rock climber. Free soloing is the act of climbing a mountain or wall without the use of safety gear. This activity is so dangerous that less than 1% of all rock climbers even attempt to free solo anything in their lives.

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The More You Know

  • Yosemite means "those who kill."
  • The 442nd Infantry Regiment, a largely Japanese American unit that served during WWII, did so while their families were held in internment camps. Their motto was "Go for Broke" and they were the most decorated unit in U.S. military history.
  • Armadillos swallow air to become buoyant when they swim.
  • A 26-sided shape is known as a small rhombicuboctahedron.
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