Home

Olympics

“Just Like Michael Jordan Sinking Free Throws With..”: Insane Story of Alex Honnold’s Nat Geo Cover Pleasantly Shocks the Rock Climbing Community

Published 12/29/2022, 3:15 PM EST

Follow Us

Great athletes are often defined by their ability to take risks. Their sheer commitment to sports and strong temperament is what set them apart. However, risks become more crucial if there’s a life at stake. The gamble can either turn out to be a miracle or a disaster. A similar gamble shot of a NatGeo filmmaker while capturing the Rock-climbing legend, Alex Honnold, has landed his picture on the Nat Geo cover page. 

The famous Nat Geo photographer, Jimmy Chin posted a picture on his Twitter handle that has been creating a lot of buzz. The picture features Honnold trying to find hand support. However, the story behind the picture was the highlight of the story. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Alex Honnold makes it to the cover page of National Geographic

In the tweet, Chin described a crucial moment during one of his climbs. He recalled the incident when in order to stay ahead of Honnold he lost the camera’s focus and took a random shot. “I fired this shot without looking through the viewfinder,” the photographer recounted.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest Olympics stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

The shot was taken by the camera, which hung off the harness. Chin had zero expectations while clicking the picture. However, his fortune turned, and the shot came out to be the best picture of the climb. The picture captured Honnold trying to find a space between the slit. The intensity in his eyes grabbed people’s attention.

The legendary photographer revealed the picture gets to feature on the cover page of National Geographic magazine. He wrote, “It ended up on the cover of NatGeo magazine”.

Fans’ Reaction to the tweet

The picture has received lots of appreciation and love from the fans. One fan has drawn a comparison between this picture and the iconic free-sinking throws of the basketball legend Michael Jordan. “It’s like Michael Jordan sinking free throws with his eyes closed. Legendary.” he wrote.

Another fan highlighted the importance of such random moments in a photographer’s life. 

An old reader of the magazine expressed his feelings on the aesthetic picture and details. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

A fan acknowledged multitasking of the Jimmy and applauded the quality work. 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Given the risk in this sport, one may think twice before even attempting to do what Alex Honnold did. And now, when the rock climbing legend had done it, he received praise from everywhere. What is your take on Honnold’s iconic photograph? Tell us in the comments section below!

Watch this story:  31-Year-Old Former Dallas Cowboys Tight End, Galvin Escobar, Tragically Passes Away In a Rock Climbing Accident

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Shivam Sharma

566Articles

One take at a time

Shivam Sharma is a US Sports author for EssentiallySports. With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, he has previously worked as a writer and an anchor for Navbharat Today, penning down and explaining issues around sports, politics, and international relations. He is an admirer of Virat Kohli for the passion that he brings to the field.
Show More>

Edited by:

Abhishek Kumar