Nik Wallenda comes from a long line of famed high-wire artists known as the Flying Wallendas. He is well known for performing his high-wire act without a safety net.
He is best known for walking a tightrope stretched directly over the Niagara Falls on June 15, 2012. The amazing feat was broadcast internationally and a crowd of over 125,000 flocked to Niagara Falls to watch the historic event live.
Wallenda crossed over a 2-inch wire strung across the raging waters of the Horseshoe Falls, the largest of the 3 falls that make up Niagara Falls. He started from Goat Island on the US side to make the 1800 feet walk to the Canadian side. He was suspended 200 feet in the air and barely took 25 minutes to make the crossing.
The walk came after a 2-year legal battle involving both sides of the Canada-United States border to gain approval. For the walk, he was required to wear a safety harness for the first time in his life, a precaution insisted upon by the US broadcaster ABC which sponsored the live telecast of his walk.