South African obstacle course racing world champion Thomas van Tonder has etched his name into the history books by completing a world-first crossing beneath South Africa’s towering 216-metre-high Bloukrans Bridge. Undertaken as part of the Red Bull Bridge Bars project, the elite athlete successfully negotiated 600 suspended monkey bars spanning more than 280 metres along the massive bridge arch. The grueling purpose-built course was conquered in an impressive time of 47 minutes and 37 seconds, testing the absolute limits of human endurance, grip strength, and mental fortitude.
The landmark event took place along the iconic Bloukrans Bridge, a structure that links the Western Cape and Eastern Cape on the N2 highway and famously hosts Africa’s highest bridge bungee jump. Rigging and safety experts constructed the temporary course without drilling or bolting into the bridge structure, implementing two independent safety points to protect the athlete throughout the extreme physical challenge.
Course Breakdown and Execution
- Total Obstacles: 600 suspended monkey bars spanning a distance of over 280 metres.
- Completion Time: 47 minutes and 37 seconds on October 26, 2026.
- Course Profile: A punishing 45-degree ascent, a short flat section at the crown, and a controlled descent.
- Safety Setup: Designed and managed by Richard Lievaart and Vertical Safety Systems without permanent fixings.
Overcoming Extreme Physical Fatigue
The record-breaking attempt began at 10:21 with Van Tonder immediately facing the steepest section of the architectural marvel. The relentless 45-degree ascent forced the OCR champion to face away from his direction of travel, placing immense and unexpected strain on identical muscle groups. By the time he reached the crown of the bridge, severe fatigue had set in, forcing him to divide the remaining distance into manageable targets while communicating constantly with his safety team over radio.
As he moved into the descent phase, gravity significantly increased his momentum between bars, demanding precise control and immense grip strength as the protective tape on his fingers began to tear away. Successfully completing every single bar without a fall, Van Tonder delivered a masterclass in extreme obstacle racing, proving his capability on the longest set of monkey bars ever built.
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