Chinese skywalker wins world high wire championship

SOUTH KOREA: China’s Abudusataer Wujiabudula on Saturday won what is billed as the world’s first high wire championship, organisers of the unusual stunt said.

Wujiabudula, an ethnic Uighur, took 11 minutes 22.49 seconds to walk a one-kilometre (3,300-foot)-long and three-centimetre (1.2-inch) thick wire strung across the Han River in the South Korean capital.

Alan Martinez from Colombia, who has walked over the Amazon, came next, completing the race in 11:30.54.

Jade Kinder Martin, who crossed the River Thames on a high wire, took third place with a time of 11:35.54.

China’s Adili Wuxiuer, who became famous by walking a rope stretched 662 metres across Chongqing cliff in 2003, at a height of 687 metres, only managed fourth place in 11:53.93.

Organisers said anyone who made it across the Han on the high wire, suspended 21 metres (70 feet) above the surface, would break the distance record.

Seoul, Sunday, AFP