Alex Honnold Shares How He Poops During Climbs

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Alex Honnold has found a new meaning behind the phrase “nature calls.”

I was completely fascinated by this climber – you probably saw him too, he did that incredible thing in January, scaling Taiwan’s tallest building barehanded on Netflix’s Skyscraper Live! Anyway, someone asked him a really practical question – how does he handle bathroom breaks when he’s out climbing? And he didn’t shy away from giving a surprisingly honest answer!

On the February 25th episode of his podcast, Hasan Minhaj Doesn’t Know, Alex explained to Hasan Minhaj that, essentially, everyone uses the restroom. He added that while he’s never had an accident while climbing, he’s definitely faced some urgent situations.

Though Hasan was speechless by his revelation, Alex didn’t think much of his explanation.

The climber, who is forty years old, explained that you simply start climbing. However, being in nature means it’s okay as long as you avoid disturbing other climbers.

Hasan was confused by what his podcast guest was explaining and asked for clarification, comparing it to the feeling of something running down your leg, like at a swimming pool.

Alex chuckled and explained, “Actually, it’s quite different. It involved a really dangerous situation—someone was practically hanging off a cliff while…relieving themselves.”

He added, “When things go sideways, things go sideways.”

Alex Honnold, the star of Free Solo, said he’s had experiences similar to a stunt Tom Cruise did in Mission Impossible II, and it’s happened more than once. Once, he even had Giardia – an intestinal infection caused by a parasite from contaminated water – while it was happening.

“You know, when it happens, it happens,” he said. “It’s better than pooping your pants.”

Alex successfully climbed Taiwan’s Taipei 101 skyscraper – a 1,667-foot climb – on January 25th without any problems, according to BBC News. The entire climb took him one hour and 31 minutes.

The athlete and his wife, Sanni McCandless Honnold, have two daughters, June, 4, and Alice, 2. He’s also famous for being the first person to climb El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without ropes—a feat captured in the Oscar-winning documentary Free Solo.

Despite his many impressive feats, Alex previously joked that his kids could care less.

He explained to TopMob News earlier this month that people weren’t paying attention to his climbing. He doesn’t believe they understand the sport at all, saying it seems completely ordinary to them and they have no concept of what he accomplishes.

Alex wants his children to enjoy being outside, but he doesn’t expect them to share his same hobbies or career path.

I wouldn’t push my kids to take on that level of risk, but I can see how they might naturally progress from hiking to simple climbing, and eventually to very basic free soloing if they feel prepared and can handle the dangers involved. It’s all a gradual progression of skills and experience.

As a parent, I want to equip my children with everything they need to thrive. I hope they feel confident and comfortable, both when facing challenges in the outdoors and in life generally, and that they feel empowered to pursue their passions and make smart choices.

Although Alex’s children might not become athletes themselves, plenty of other professional sports stars have seen their kids follow in their footsteps. Here’s a look at some children of famous athletes.

Many people consider him the best basketball player ever, so it’s no surprise his sons, Jeffrey Jordan and Marcus Jordan, wanted to become players too. After playing in high school, Jeffrey Jordan went on to play college basketball at both the University of Illinois and the University of Central Florida, hoping to make a name for himself outside of his famous father’s legacy.

In 2005, Jeffrey told The Washington Post that while he didn’t consider himself among the best players in his state, he was determined to prove he deserved to compete and wasn’t just relying on reputation.

Honestly, learning that Marcus also played basketball at UCF just makes me love him even more! He always says his dad was a huge influence, and it’s so sweet to hear how his dad helped him figure things out and find his own way. It just shows what a grounded and amazing person he is!

He said that whenever he had questions, the other man would offer advice. But mostly, he just emphasized the importance of staying focused and working hard, believing that effort would eventually lead to success, as he told The Gainesville Sun in 2011.

Bronny James (born LeBron James Jr. on October 6, 2004) played high school basketball at Sierra Canyon in the San Fernando Valley and later went on to attend the University of Southern California.

LeBron’s busy NBA schedule has often made it difficult for him to attend all of his son Bronny’s games, but he’s always made a real effort to be there. For example, he once rented a private plane on a day off just to watch Bronny’s team, Sierra Canyon, play against his old high school, St. Vincent-St. Mary, in Akron, Ohio.

Okay, seriously, hearing LeBron say he’s going to watch Bronny play against his old college team? It’s just… mind-blowing! He called it ‘surreal’ and ‘unbelievable,’ and honestly, that’s putting it mildly. It’s like everything has come full circle for him, and I can’t even process how amazing it’s going to be to witness it. I’m already getting chills just thinking about it!

Okay, I’m still freaking out about this, but in June 2024, Bronny actually got drafted to the Lakers! Can you believe it?! It’s insane because that means he and LeBron will be playing on the same team, making history as the first father-son duo ever to be in the NBA together! I seriously can’t wait to watch them play!

LeBron James’s son, Bryce James, began his college basketball career at the University of Arizona in 2025.

 

Rounding out the Sierra Canyon team of all-stars is Zaire Wade, the oldest son of former Miami Heat player, Dwyane Wade.

Zaire, who joined the team in December 2019 after transferring from Florida, said they have to get used to all the attention. He told Yahoo! Sports that cameras follow them everywhere, and while he’s experienced a lot of attention throughout his life, this is unlike anything he’s ever seen – it’s on a completely different scale.

In April 2020, Zaire announced on Instagram that he was transferring to Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, Florida, because he wasn’t getting enough playing time.

Zaire was selected 10th overall in the 2021 NBA G League draft by the Salt Lake City Stars. He later played for the Cape Town Tigers in the Basketball Africa League and most recently signed with a team in the ASEAN Basketball League in April 2024.

 

Former football star Cha’iel Johnson might be surpassed by his own daughter’s athletic achievements. She’s a talented track and field athlete who won the girls’ 800-meter race at the 2017 AAU Junior Olympics when she was just 12 years old.

She began her athletic career at St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida and later competed for the University of Kentucky.

 

One of the NBA legend’s sons, standing 6-foot-10, played basketball at UCLA. His college career was unfortunately cut short due to a heart problem that needed surgery.

He sat out the 2018-19 season after leaving his previous school and then transferred to Louisiana State University (LSU). LSU famously honors its successful alumni, including Shaquille O’Neal, with a 900-pound bronze statue located outside the basketball practice facility.

After finishing his college basketball career at LSU in 2022, the player began his professional journey with the NBA G League Ignite, a team designed to develop young players for the NBA.

 

Shaquille O’Neal’s daughter, who is 6-foot-2, decided to play basketball at LSU in 2020, joining her brother Shareef on the team.

Choosing what to do after high school is a really big decision, and I’ve made mine! I’m a little nervous about the future, but I’m definitely up for the challenge. I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve committed to playing a sport at LSU with my brother, Shareef O’Neal. I’m so thankful for the opportunity to spend the next four years as a Tiger!

She joined the basketball team at Texas Southern University for the 2021-2022 season.

 

The oldest daughter of a two-time NBA All-Star played basketball with Izela Arenas, daughter of Gilbert Arenas, while they both attended Sierra Canyon School.

In a December 2020 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Randolph spoke about his time playing for Michigan State under coach Tom Izzo. He described Izzo as a tough, demanding coach who pushed his male players hard. However, Randolph explained that Izzo had a softer side with the female students, being more understanding and supportive, especially when they expressed effort and dedication. He said Izzo clearly had a special place in his heart for the women.

I was so impressed when MacKenly told me she’d won against her dad in a one-on-one matchup three times! She joked that he just doesn’t bother with defense, which had everyone laughing. It’s amazing to see her skill!

Terique, the 6’3″ son of an NFL Hall of Famer, initially joined Florida Atlantic University’s football team as a walk-on in 2019. He had primarily played basketball growing up, but switched to football during his teenage years. He began his college football career at Contra Costa Community College before transferring to FAU.

After his college football career, Terique signed with the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad.

A standout player from Sierra Canyon High School, he was a four-year starter and led his team to two state championships. He continued his basketball career at Vanderbilt University and joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 2022 with a two-way contract.

In 2024, Scotty Jr. signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies that allows him to play for both the Grizzlies and their G League affiliate, after a short time playing for the South Bay Lakers.

Michael Jordan, the legendary Chicago Bulls player and five-time NBA champion, is also a father.

Dennis Rodman Jr., also known as DJ, was a high school athlete at Corona del Mar High School in Newport Beach, California, playing both basketball and football. He initially played basketball at Washington State University before transferring to the University of Southern California in 2023.

I’ve been watching him for years, and honestly, I think he’s seriously underrated here in Southern California. Back in 2017, after one of his games, his high school coach, Ryan Schachter, told the Orange County Register exactly that – he’s a player people really need to pay attention to!

After his college career, DJ joined Capital City Go-Go of the NBA G League in 2024.

While Dennis Rodman’s son followed in his footsteps by playing basketball, his daughter, Trinity Rodman, chose a different sport: soccer. After her first college season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, she turned professional in 2021, joining the Washington Spirit. In 2022, she also began playing for the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.

In 2024, Trinity won Olympic gold as part of Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

It’s not surprising that Tiger Woods’ son is a talented golfer. Charlie Woods first appeared on television playing golf with his dad at the 2020 PNC Championship when he was just 11 years old.

Asked about practicing his golf swing before playing with his son, the 15-time major champion admitted he hadn’t done any. He said he wasn’t focused on his own performance, but on making sure his son, Charlie, had a great time and enjoyed the experience.

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2026-02-26 02:48