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FILM SPECIAL FEATURETOMMY AND KEVIN
WHO ARE THEY?
Tommy Caldwell is a living
legend in the world of rock
climbing and has established some
of the hardest rock-climbing routes
in the USA. Tommy is most known
for his big wall free climbing with 12
routes on El Capitan in Yosemite.
Kevin Jorgeson is the boulderer
turned big wall protégé who
teamed up to complete the hardest
free climb on El Capitan with
Tommy Caldwell. Together they
make an unstoppable team.
Tommy’s background certainly
is an interesting one, built from
prevailing over some epic
challenges. Tommy grew up with a
mountain guide father who taught
him to embrace fear and doubt and
turn it into inspiration. His passion
for climbing took him around theworld, and in 2000, he was taken
captive and held hostage for
several days by armed rebels in
Kyrgyzstan, along with other
climbers. Upon his successful
escape, he returned home.
While trying to return to
normality with his life after the
frightening incident in Kyrgyzstan,
Tommy severed his index finger in
a home remodelling accident. For
any climber at the top of their
game, this would be the end of a
career, but not for Tommy Caldwell.
He came back stronger than ever
before, to become one of the most
accomplished climbers ever in
sport climbing.
Kevin Jorgeson’s background
may not have been as extreme as
Tommy’s but his story is nothingless extraordinary. At a young age
he began climbing and discovered
bouldering, or more that he was
exceptionally good at bouldering.
He very quickly made a name for
himself, took out national
championships, and established
some exciting first ascents of his
own. Through his exceptional
climbing ability, he began to seek
out other climbing disciplines, and
made contact with Tommy
Caldwell after hearing about his
project on the Dawn Wall.
Tommy mentored and trained
Kevin over the next six years, and
in December 2014, they embarked
on the 19 days journey to the top of
El Capitan where they completed
what many say is the hardest route
ever climbed.