Nik Wallenda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nik Wallenda
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Wallenda in 2014
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| Born |
Nikolas Wallenda
January 24, 1979 Sarasota, Florida, U.S.
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| Other names | The King of the Wire (nickname) |
| Occupation | Acrobat, daredevil, high-wire artist |
| Years active | 1992–present |
| Known for | Walking over Masaya volcano in Nicaragua, an 1,800-foot walk, in 2020 in 31m 23s. High-wire act without a net First person to walk a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls |
| Spouse(s) |
Erendira Vazquez
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Delilah Wallenda and Terry Troffer |
| Relatives | Karl Wallenda (great-grandfather) |
| Awards | Nine-time world record holder |
Nikolas "Nik" Wallenda (born January 24, 1979) is an American acrobat and high-wire artist famous for his incredible daredevil performances. He is best known for doing his high-wire walks without a safety net. Wallenda holds 11 Guinness World Records for his amazing feats.
He was the first person to walk on a tightrope directly over Niagara Falls. On March 4, 2020, he completed his longest walk ever. He walked for 1,800 feet on a steel cable over the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua.
Wallenda comes from a long line of circus performers called The Flying Wallendas. He started performing in the circus as a child. He chose high-wire walking as his career in 1998. This was after he helped his family create a seven-person pyramid on the wire. He is married with three children and says his Christian faith is very important to him.
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Family and Early Life
Wallenda is a seventh-generation member of The Flying Wallendas. His family, who were originally from Germany, have been circus performers since the 1700s. They became famous for doing balancing acts without safety nets. Nik's great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, is his biggest hero and role model.
Born in Sarasota, Florida, Wallenda started practicing on the wire when he was just two years old. At age four, he was walking on his own. His parents would even throw things at him or shoot a BB gun to teach him how to handle distractions. When he was six, he saw Niagara Falls for the first time and knew he wanted to walk across it one day.
He made his professional tightrope debut at age 13. After high school, he thought about becoming a doctor. But in 1998, he joined his family to recreate his great-grandfather's famous seven-person pyramid on the high-wire. After that, he knew the high-wire was his true calling.
A Career on the Wire
Nik Wallenda performs without a safety net or harness. He says that safety nets can give a "false sense of security." He learned this from his great-grandfather. He trains for his walks very carefully and sees them as an art form, not just a stunt. "What I do is very calculated," he says. "I train a long time for it."
He trains six hours a day, six days a week. He says walking on the wire is mostly a mental skill. He is known for doing tricks on the wire, like sitting down or making a phone call.
Early Career Highlights
In 2001, Wallenda and his family set a Guinness World Record. They created the world's first eight-person pyramid on a high-wire in Japan.
From 2002 to 2005, he toured the United States with his family. He performed in various circuses. One of his early acts involved riding a motorcycle across a high-wire 30 feet in the air.
In 2008, Wallenda set world records for the longest and highest bicycle ride on a high-wire. He rode a bike for 250 feet at a height of 135 feet above the ground in New Jersey.
Amazing Feats
Wallenda has performed many incredible walks. In 2010, he walked over 2,000 feet on a tightrope in a single performance. He also set a record in 2011 by performing on the Wheel of Death on top of the 23-story Tropicana Casino and Resort.
Later that year, he and his mother walked on a wire between two hotel towers in Puerto Rico. This was the same walk that his great-grandfather, Karl Wallenda, had died trying to complete. Nik did it to honor his great-grandfather's memory.
On June 10, 2011, Wallenda hung from a helicopter 250 feet in the air using only his toes. He has also walked on top of a moving Ferris wheel.
Conquering Niagara Falls
On June 15, 2012, Nik Wallenda achieved his childhood dream. He walked on a tightrope across Niagara Falls. It took him two years to get permission from both the United States and Canada.
The walk was broadcast live on ABC. For the first time in his life, he was required to wear a safety harness. He wasn't happy about it, but he agreed to the rule.
The walk was 1,800 feet long and took place at night. Tens of thousands of people watched from both sides of the falls. The wire was slippery from the mist, and the winds were strong. Wallenda prayed as he walked, and he made it across in 25 minutes. He became the first person to walk directly over the falls on a wire.
After the walk, he had to show his passport to Canadian border guards. He said the walk was more difficult than he expected because of the wind and mist.
Walking Across the Grand Canyon
On June 23, 2013, Wallenda faced his next big challenge. He walked on a high-wire across the Little Colorado River Gorge, near the Grand Canyon. This walk was broadcast live on the Discovery Channel.
The walk was 1,500 feet high, making it the highest of his career. It was about seven times higher than his Niagara Falls walk. He walked a distance of about 1,400 feet in just under 23 minutes. This time, he did not wear a safety harness.
The winds were strong, and dust made the wire slippery. At one point, he had to crouch down on the wire to stay balanced. He prayed throughout the walk and ran the last few steps before kissing the ground. He was the first person to ever walk on a high-wire across a Grand Canyon area gorge.
Chicago Skyscraper Walk
On November 2, 2014, Wallenda took on the city of Chicago. He completed two incredible high-wire walks between skyscrapers for a TV special called Skyscraper Live.
For his first walk, he walked uphill at a steep 19-degree angle. The wire stretched between two buildings over the Chicago River. This set a new Guinness World Record for the steepest tightrope incline.
For his second walk, he walked between the two towers of Marina City while blindfolded. This set another world record for the highest tightrope walk while blindfolded.
Volcano Walk and Other Stunts
On March 4, 2020, Wallenda walked over the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua. This was his longest walk, taking over 31 minutes. He had to wear a gas mask and goggles to protect himself from the volcanic gases. His wife, Erendira, also performed an aerial act over the volcano before his walk.
In 2021, he walked between two buildings at D'Youville College in Buffalo, New York. The walk was for the grand opening of a new health building.
Wallenda continues to dream of new challenges. He hopes to walk across famous landmarks like the Bosphorus in Turkey or near the pyramids in Egypt.
Images for kids
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Wallenda walks a tightrope over Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
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Wallenda walking the high-wire at Kings Island on August 15, 2009.
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Wallenda practicing for his Niagara walk at Seneca Niagara Casino.
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Wallenda surrounded by the mist of Niagara Falls, midway through his crossing.
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The crowds present at Wallenda's tightrope crossing.
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Wallenda training for his Canyon walk.
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Wallenda walks a tightrope at Canada's Wonderland theme park.
See also
In Spanish: Nikolas Wallenda para niños
