Portuguese 
English 
Spanish 
6 min of reading 
0 comments 
On the centenary of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, Rafael Bridi plans to cross more than 1.2 km in urban highline between Continent and Island, suspended at 85 meters, in an attempt for a world record in the Guinness that places Florianópolis at the center of a sporting, tourist, and historical celebration during the official event of the city of Santa Catarina.
The Hercílio Luz Bridge may gain a new symbolic chapter in its centenary with a crossing that promises to draw attention in Florianópolis. Athlete Rafael Bridi will attempt to walk suspended over the South Bay, on a narrow line installed between the Continent and the Island.
According to the portal nd+, the attempt is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, and is expected to turn the sky of the capital of Santa Catarina into the stage for an urban highline challenge. If he completes the planned route, Bridi could place the crossing in the Guinness Book as a new world record for the modality.
Crossing will connect Continent and Island from above
The crossing planned will be approximately 1,232 meters long, connecting buildings between the Continent and the Island. The route will be made about 85 meters above sea level, with the Hercílio Luz Bridge and the Colombo Salles Bridge composing the background scenery.
-
The result of the Enem 2026 exemption can now be checked; see the step-by-step guide.
-
Clay tablets the size of a smartphone, 4,000 years old, hold receipts, employee lists, and even anti-witchcraft ceremonies from the Middle East.
-
The “diving robot” capable of reaching 4,500 meters deep at the ocean floor: the ROV SuBastian is equipped with a 4K camera, five thrusters, and adaptable technology.
-
The first vaccine in the world was created 230 years ago by Edward Jenner, tested on an 8-year-old child, and later helped eradicate smallpox — the deadliest disease in history.
The image promises to be unusual even for a city accustomed to striking landscapes. Instead of boats crossing the bay or cars passing over the bridges, the public will be able to see an athlete walking slowly on a line just a few centimeters wide.
The official attempt is scheduled to start at 8 a.m., in the Continent-Island direction. The challenge is expected to last about an hour and a half, depending on the conditions of the crossing, the athlete’s pace, and the protocols defined for the operation.
The feat will not be just a sporting presentation. It is part of the commemorative program for the 100 years of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, the main postcard of Florianópolis and one of the most recognized structures in Santa Catarina.
Rafael Bridi attempts to break the world record for urban highline
Rafael Bridi will attempt to break the current world record for urban highline, achieved in 2024 by Estonian Jaan Roose. On that occasion, the athlete crossed 1,070 meters over the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey.
The planned route in Florianópolis surpasses this mark by 158 meters. If he completes the crossing, Bridi could enter the Guinness Book for the fourth time, reinforcing his position among the top names in highline worldwide.
Born in Florianópolis, the athlete has already built a career marked by challenges at great heights. Among his recorded feats are crossings in extreme settings, such as an active volcano in Vanuatu, a line between balloons in Serra Catarinense, and a walk over Angel Falls in Venezuela.
Bridi has been practicing the sport since 2013 and has completed over 600 crossings in different countries. His career combines sport, tourism, visual performance, and high-impact challenges, always with a strong appeal for images that draw attention both inside and outside Brazil.
Ponte Hercílio Luz has already been the scene of another historic moment
The relationship between Rafael Bridi and the Ponte Hercílio Luz does not begin now. In 2020, during the reopening of the bridge after decades of closure, the athlete performed a crossing of about 340 meters between the towers of the structure, suspended over the sea.
Now, the challenge is greater in distance and symbolism. Returning to the surroundings of Ponte Hercílio Luz precisely on the centenary transforms the attempt into a sporting and affectionate gesture for Florianópolis.
The bridge, known as the “Iron Lady,” carries strong historical, architectural, and emotional value for the residents. Inaugurated 100 years ago, it has gone through periods of closure, restoration, public expectation, and return to the city’s daily life.
Therefore, the record attempt involves more than just the sporting mark. It connects to the collective memory of Florianópolis, local tourism, and the way the city celebrates one of its most emblematic structures.
Challenge requires physical preparation, focus, and safety
Highline is a modality that requires balance, emotional control, physical preparation, and constant attention. In a long crossing, the athlete needs to manage wind, height, tape oscillation, fatigue, and concentration throughout the entire route.
Each step depends on precision. Unlike a common walk, the athlete moves over a narrow and unstable line, where small body movements directly influence balance.
In challenges of this type, safety is a central part of the operation. The crossing involves technical planning, choice of anchor points, structural assessment, appropriate equipment, and specialized monitoring to reduce risks.
The public tends to see mainly the visual spectacle, but behind the scene, there is extensive preparation. The tape, the fastening systems, the support protocols, and the logistics need to work before the athlete takes the first step.
Centenary of the bridge brings together sport, culture, and public programming
Rafael Bridi’s attempt is part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, celebrated throughout May in Florianópolis. The program includes cultural, sports, musical activities, and special events related to the history of the structure.
Highlights include exhibitions, artistic performances, shows, cultural actions, and activities around the bridge. The goal is to turn the centenary into a broad celebration, involving residents, tourists, and different spaces in the city.
The highline crossing enters this context as one of the moments of greatest visual impact. It combines extreme sport, urban landscape, and historical heritage in a single scene, with potential for national and international repercussion.
For Florianópolis, the challenge can also reinforce the city’s image as a stage for sports and tourist events. The presence of the Hercílio Luz Bridge at the center of the narrative further amplifies the symbolic value of the attempt.
A record that could mark the sky of Florianópolis
Rafael Bridi’s attempt places the Hercílio Luz Bridge in a different position within the centenary celebrations. Instead of just being a historical backdrop, the structure becomes part of an image of calculated risk, extreme sport, and public celebration.
If the crossing is completed, Florianópolis may associate the anniversary of its most famous bridge with a world record in the Guinness. Even before the result, the challenge already draws attention for transforming the relationship between city, landscape, and sport.
The scene should remain in the memory of those who watch the suspended walk over the South Bay. For some, it will be a bold tribute to the city. For others, an extreme test that mixes courage, technique, and exposure.
Do you think that a crossing of this magnitude honors the centenary of the Hercílio Luz Bridge, or do you consider the challenge too risky for a public celebration? Leave your opinion in the comments.
Be the first to react!