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Chinese wins tightrope contest across Seoul river

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-05 14:23

Onlookers watched as competitors walked along the 1.2-inch-thick wire, supported by 69-foot-tall towers on the north and south banks of the Han River, which divides the South Korean capital.

Chinese woman Aixiguli walks a high wire during the World High Wire Championships in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Oct. 3, 2008. Twenty-seven high-wire walkers from 14 countries challenged on the tightrope, a wire rope of 30 millimeters in diameter stretching 1,000 meters across the Han River in Seoul. [Agencies]

No one needed the safety net slung under the wire. Colombia's Marcos Luis Martinez lost his balance at one point but caught himself and managed to run across.

"I am so proud of myself to finish my performance on the single-strand wire," he said.

Ayaixiguli Maimitili, who said she came from China to watch six fellow Uighurs compete in Seoul, including the winner, decided to try her hand at crossing the tightrope, with bowls on her head.

"Traditionally, Uighur women put bowls on their head to keep their balance," she said.

The competitors hailed from 14 countries, including Tino Wallenda and his daughter Aurelia of the "Flying Wallendas" high-wire act.

Onlookers later had the chance to try walking a shorter tightrope, not as high up, themselves.

"I felt nervous and cool at the same time," said tourist Kai Schneider, 22, from Germany.

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