Circus / world record

Circus performer breaks ‘death-defying’ world record

By Lottie Leigh  Wednesday Sep 20, 2023

A circus performer in Bristol has broken his own world record for jumping through a flaming hoop on a high wire.

Henry Ayala, known as ‘the Prince of Clowns’, completed 17 jumps in 60 seconds in the big top of Circus Extreme, which is on the Downs until October 8.

This broke his previous record of 14 which he set in Italy in 2022.

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Originally from Venezuela, Henry has performed all over the world and previously set a world record in Bristol 20 years ago for 1,005 consecutive skips on a high wire.

Henry said his childhood in Venezuela inspired him to jump through flaming hoops. He said an obsession with trying to break rules and records gradually led to jumping through flames.

Main photo & video: Lottie Leigh 

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