Imagine walking on a tightrope between two New York City skyscrapers, without a harness or safety net. This past Sunday, November 2, Nik Wallenda broke two world records by walking on a tightrope between three Chicago buildings. He completed two walks that night. His first walk was a 454 foot-long walk from Marina Tower West to the Leo Burnett Building. This difficult walk included a 19-degree incline. Wallenda walked up the distance equivalent to 8 stories on the tightrope with nothing but his balance to keep him in place.
Though his next walk was shorter (94 ft), he was blindfolded. Wallenda was able to use only the feel of the thin rope beneath him to guide him to the other side. He was extremely vulnerable to what any gust of wind in the Windy City might have brought him, with no kind of safety harness whatsoever. Wallenda successfully completed both walks, bringing his records from the Guinness World Records to nine. But Wallenda is not quite the first to amaze the world with his tightrope walking skills.
Tightrope walking first graced the world in Niagara Falls in 1859 when daredevil Jean-François Gravelet crossed the falls – twice. The crowd of reporters and gawkers erupted in cheers when Gravelet returned to their side safely.
But, why would Wallenda or Gravelet do this? Due to Wallenda’s family tradition, he has been walking on a tightrope since he was two years old. His family has been in the circus business for generations. While tightrope walking may seem normal to Wallenda, it is inconceivable to most people. This kind of action begs the question: why would someone want to put their life at such risk for a sport?
Extreme sports, like tightrope walking, are becoming increasingly popular. Parkour, or free-running, has become more and more visible in social media. In addition, wingsuit flying has also become popular, but these are far from common sports. These activities require not only an immense amount of skill but also tremendous bravery. These athletes are putting their lives on the line much more than most athletes. Extreme sports athletes are at a much larger risk than any other type of athlete. Whether they are jumping out of a plane, diving in the ocean without air supply or snowboarding off of cliffs, extreme sports athletes never fail to amaze their audience, but at a personal expense.
Whether it’s the adrenaline rush or overall experience that draws you to a sport, extreme or not, athletes are not backing down from challenges. Our athletes continue to break barriers and push their limits to see just how much the human body can achieve.
See some incredible athletes in action in this Red Bull commercial: