“I am fascinated by the engineering. The science of constructing and understanding why it stands. And I am drawn by the madness, the beauty, the theatricality, the poetry and soul of the wire. And you cannot be a wire-walker without mingling those two ways of seeing life.”

French highwire artist

Philippe Petit is a French highwire artist, best known for the daring walks that made him famous in the 1970s. Born in 1949, he became widely known for crossing between the towers of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in 1971, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1973, and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on 7 August 1974. His reputation rests on feats of balance, nerve, and meticulous preparation. The walks, all unauthorized, placed him at the center of public attention and made his name synonymous with highwire performance. His words and public presence are often associated with risk, discipline, and the pursuit of extraordinary acts.