Золотой ледоруб
Babanov was born in Omsk, and started climbing in 1980. He achieved several first ascents and speed records, and was awarded with the Piolet d'Or twice, at last together with Yuri Koshelenko for an ascent on the South Face of Nuptse Shar I. He is married and lives in Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, France.