More than 500 feet above the ground, dare-devil Nik Wallenda broke two World Records at Chicago's Marina City west tower and Leo Burnett Building. In front of a crowd of 50,000 and a live telecast on the Discovery Channel, he first walked a tightrope between the buildings that started at 588 feet and ended at 671 feet. Originally, the feat was planned at only a 15-degree angle, but regulations from city officials made them change plans at the last minute and make the walk steeper at 19-degree incline.
However, Wallenda wasn't finished yet, when he reached the Leo Burnett Building, he took the elevator and walked back to the west tower of Marina City and did the walk again - this time blindfolded.
Wallenda, a 35-year old, 7th generation circus family performer, has successfully completed other death-defying tightrope walking stunts in the past without a harness. He has walked across Niagara Falls, the Little Colorado River Gorge, and other spectacular sites.
"It's hard for people to comprehend, but it truly is my passion. My family has done this for seven generations and 200 years. My great-grandfather said it best, 'Life is on the wire and the rest is just waiting,'" he said.
Wallenda's fans on Twitter were with him every inch of his two walks on Nov. 2 which took around 10 minutes to complete for the first half, and culminated at around 8:05 P.M.
Using the hashtags #WallendaWalk and #skyscraperlive (The latter hashtag has been taken over by the unfortunately misspelled #skyscrapperlive), they voiced their support, admiration, and sometimes, utter disbelief at his attempt to walk between the two buildings on a steel cable.
Congrats @NikWallenda on Making History...twice. We raise a toast to you. #SkyscraperLive pic.twitter.com/fVADNNGMcv
— Jim Beam (@JimBeam) Nov. 3, 2014
Congrats @NikWallenda on a double record-breaking night - highest inclined and blindfolded tightrope walks! #SkyscraperLive — GuinnessWorldRecords (@GWR) Nov. 3, 2014
One historic #SkyscraperLive walk is achieved! Up next: BLINDFOLDED! pic.twitter.com/SBqJh1ZMSJ
— Discovery (@Discovery) Nov. 3, 2014
#Skyscraperlive is still probably safer than crossing the street in Chicago. — Peyton's Head (@PeytonsHead) Nov. 3, 2014
The best part of Nik Wallenda is, he's so likable… #SkyscraperLive
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) Nov. 3, 2014
The event was broadcast with a 10 second delay to give producers time to cut away in the event that something should go wrong as Wallenda completed his feat.
