High-wire artist crosses Niagara Falls on tightrope The sceptics had warned that high winds or even swooping birds would down him. But high-wire artist Nik Wallenda defied the odds to fulfil his dream by crossing over Niagara Falls on a tightrope. A French predecessor had once walked high over the Niagara gorge, but no-one had previously made it over the brink of the falls. Wallenda - a member of a famous family of high-wire artists - took a little over 25 minutes to complete the 550 metre crossing. The athlete - he prefers that label to stuntman - only reluctantly wore a safety harness at the insistence of an American TV network covering the event. He said the wind and mist made his journey very uncomfortable for a while. But anxiety gave way to exhilaration as Wallenda reached the Canadian side to greet his family - and immigration officials who, not entirely seriously, demanded to see his passport. More about: Canada, Other sports, USA, World record