Nik Wallenda, ‘The King of the Highwire’, has made history after successfully crossing the Windy City of Chicago on a tightrope without a net or tether. Discovery Channel captured every heart-pounding moment live as he made the two-part walk in one of the windiest sections of Chicago at night in Skyscraper Live. The programme aired live across Asia Pacific and in more than 220 countries and territories this morning, November 3, on Discovery Channel.
“It was such an incredible feeling to do this walk in Chicago. The city holds a special place in my heart and have dreamed about doing this ever since I was a kid,” said the 35-year-old Wallenda. “I feel blessed to have this opportunity and would like to thank everyone in the city of Chicago along with the Discovery Channel for trusting in my abilities.”
For the first of the two-part walk, Nik crossed more than two city blocks uphill at a 15-degree angle – approximately 8 stories – making it the steepest walk he’s ever attempted and the highest skyscraper crossing in the history of the famed Wallenda family. The walk stretched from the iconic Marina City’s west tower to the Leo Burnett Building at more than 50 stories high above the Chicago River.
For the second part of the walk – spanning from the Marina City’s west tower to the east tower – Nik added a blindfold, making it the first time he’s ever attempted such a feat.
“I think you probably saw me shaking like a leaf,” Wallenda said after the blindfold part of the walk was successfully completed. “That wire was shaking underneath me and I just wanted to make it to the other side.”
Nik earned two world records for his Chicago high-wire walk – one for the steepest incline and another for the highest walk while blindfolded. With today’s walk, Nik now has 10 world records including the 2013 tightrope walk across the Grand Canyon which aired live on Discovery.
If you missed the action this morning, rest assured you can catch the encore presentation tonight on Discovery Channel (Astro Channel 551) at 7pm.
Skyscraper Live will also repeat on Saturday, 8 November at 10am, 2pm, 6pm and 10pm and Sunday, 9 November at 8am, 12pm, 7pm and 12am. Check out the highlights of the epic walk right after the jump.
