Meet Sanni McCandless, the climber married to Alex Honnold

Meet Sanni McCandless, the climber married to Alex Honnold originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Sanni McCandless Honnold is an accomplished climber, certified life coach and entrepreneur married to world-famous free soloist Alex Honnold. She'll watch her husband try to tackle the Taipei 101 on Netflix Friday night.  

McCandless Honnold was recognized for her calm presence in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo, and has built an identity that extends well beyond her husband’s historic ascents. A skilled climber in her own right, she is also the co-founder of Outwild, an organization centered on outdoor adventure, community building and value-driven living.

Originally from North Carolina, McCandless Honnold earned a psychology degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduating, she worked at a tech startup in Seattle before pivoting toward a more nomadic lifestyle shaped by travel, climbing and personal growth. That shift ultimately led her to life coaching, where she focuses on communication, major life transitions and intentional decision-making.

She met Honnold at one of his book signings in 2015. The couple became engaged on Christmas Day in 2019 and married Sept. 13, 2020. They now have two daughters: June, born in 2022, and Alice, born in 2024. Family life has become a central part of their story, particularly as Honnold balances elite climbing with parenthood.

McCandless Honnold gained widespread attention during Free Solo for navigating the emotional weight of supporting Honnold as he prepared to climb El Capitan without ropes. He's credited as the only person to accomplish the feat with a record time under four hours. 

As Honnold prepares to free solo Taipei 101 in a live global event streamed on Netflix, his wife remains a steady presence. Watch Honnold's attempt at history on Friday night at 8 p.m. ET.