Van Tonder smashed the 280‑metre arch of Bloukrans Bridge in 47 minutes 37 seconds, pulling 600 monkey bars with nothing but his hands.
The 45‑degree ascent at the start was a brutal launchpad, pushing his heart to 150 bpm; halfway through, exhaustion hit harder than his simulations had predicted, making the middle of the crossing a true turning point.
After the finish, the champion said, “I set the big, crazy goal, and we actually got it done,” and admitted the climb humbled him, highlighting the mental grind that matched the physical strain.
After two years of goal‑setting and six months on a 50‑metre uphill rig, Van Tonder’s record‑first crossing will place him on the radar for the 2027 World Obstacle Championship.
He now turns his sights to the 2027 World Obstacle Championship in Hong Kong.