Reinhard Kleindl 32-year-old Austrian extreme sports enthusiast Country: Australia

1. Reinhard Kleindl: The High-Flying Austrian
2. Highlining vs. Tightrope Walking
3. Fear and Triumph
4. Exuberant Victory

Reinhard Kleindl: The High-Flying Austrian

Reinhard Kleindl, a 32-year-old Austrian daredevil, made history in May 2013 when he traversed a 185-meter highline suspended between skyscrapers in Frankfurt, Germany. The man who reportedly suffers from acrophobia, a fear of heights, set a new record for urban highlining, also known as urban slacklining.

Highlining vs. Tightrope Walking

Unlike tightrope walking, where the rope is taut, a highline is more dynamic and less rigid, with the line suspended high above the ground or water, often requiring a safety harness. In Kleindl's case, the highline was stretched between two high-rise buildings at a dizzying 185 meters above the ground.

Fear and Triumph

Despite his phobia, Kleindl conquered his fears and successfully walked the highline, surpassing the previous record of 120 meters set in Paris between the twin towers of 'Les Mercuriales'. The athlete admitted that battling the psychological effects of the height was tougher than he had anticipated, as the buildings' straight lines seemed to stretch into infinity.

Exuberant Victory

Despite the challenges, Kleindl expressed immense satisfaction with his performance, reportedly exclaiming with joy upon completing the walk. The record remains unconfirmed by the World Slackline Federation.