Tightrope walking is in Nik Wallenda’s blood. As a seventh generation member of the Flying Wallendas, a circus family known for performing their stunts on the high-wire without a net, Nik has set his sights on pushing the limits of what is physically possible on a tightrope.
Many of his daredevil acts have been inspired by his fellow funambulist family members, and carrying on his family tradition has earned him 9 Guinness World Records and made him a household name.
From walking across the Grand Canyon and Niagara Falls to unconventional stunts like his latest walk on the 400 foot tall spinning Orlando Eye, Wallenda has brought a new generation of fans to the family tradition of high wire stunts. But Nik believes his greatest accomplishment is inspiring others to chase their dreams and to never give up.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Inside Elon Musk’s War on Washington
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- 11 New Books to Read in February
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Cecily Strong on Goober the Clown
- Column: The Rise of America’s Broligarchy
- Introducing the 2025 Closers
Write to Julia Lull at julia.lull@time.com