Thomas van Tonder completes world first monkey bar bridge crossing

South African obstacle course racing world champion Thomas van Tonder has completed a world-first challenge beneath the Bloukrans Bridge in South Africa, Euronews reported. The athlete crossed 600 suspended monkey bars along more than 280 metres of the bridge's arch. He finished the challenge in 47 minutes and 37 seconds. [1]

Euronews reported that the event was called the Red Bull Bridge Bars challenge and took place under the 216-metre-high bridge. Van Tonder set off at 10:21 with a heart rate of 150 beats per minute. He immediately navigated the steepest part of the course, which featured a 45-degree ascent. [1]

South Africa is the southernmost country in Africa and encloses Lesotho, occupying an area of more than 1.2 million square kilometres. Obstacle course racing is also an event within the modern pentathlon, an Olympic sport that includes fencing, freestyle swimming, laser pistol shooting, and cross country running. [9][10]