Patrick Edlinger

Patrick Edlinger (15 June 1960 – 16 November 2012) was a professional French rock climber and climbing author and climbing film-maker. Edlinger is considered a pioneer of the rock-climbing disciplines of sport climbing, of competition climbing, and of free solo climbing, and was ranked amongst the world's greatest rock-climbers during the mid to late 1980s as the sport began to moderize from its traditional climbing roots and into sport-climbing and competition-climbing. Edlinger was the second-ever climber to redpoint at grade 7c (5.12d) with Nymphodalle (1979), and at grade 7c+ (5.13a) with Le Toit (1981). He was the first-ever climber to onsight at grade 7b+ (5.12c) with Captain crochet (1982), and second-ever at grade 7c (5.12d) with La Polka des Ringards (1982). His free solo of Orange Mécanique in 1989 was only the second-ever at that grade in history. Nicknamed "Le Blond" (after his hair), his fluid climbing style and distinctive physical appearance have made him a recognisable and iconic figure in rock-climbing.