Nik Wallenda made it clear once again last night:
He really is King of the Highwire.
The daredevil walked across a tightrope – without the aid of a net or a tether – strung between two Chicago skyscrapers last night, completing the totally insane task as part of a Discovery Channel special.
The event aired live across the United States and in over 220 countries and territories was hosted by NBC News’ Willie Geist, Natalie Morales and The Weather Channel’s Jim Cantore.
“It was such an incredible feeling to do this walk in Chicago,” Wallenda said. “The city holds a special place in my heart and have dreamed about doing this ever since I was a kid.”
“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.”
Weather conditions were a factor for this risky maneuver, but temperatures held steady at 50 degrees and winds at a manageable 2 mph.

For the first of the walk, Wallenda crossed more than two city blocks uphill at a 15-degree angle, making it the steepest walk he’s ever attempted and the highest skyscraper crossing in the history of his traveling circus-based family.
The walk stretched from the 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 – Wallenda added a BLINDFOLD. It was the first time he’d ever done such a thing.
“I think you probably saw me shaking like a leaf,” Wallenda said after the blindfold was over. “That wire was shaking underneath me and I just wanted to make it to the other side
Nik now holds 10 world records, including his Niagara Falls tightrope walk and a 2013 traversing of the Grand Canyon, which also aired live on Discovery.

