Thierry Devaux

Thierry landed a paramotor on the torch of the Statue of Liberty on August 23, 2001, after taking off from New Jersey. The goal of this landing was to perform three figures by directly climbing through his bungee. There were several confusions regarding the paramotor and the acrobatic jumps. Contrary to what some big US media reported, Thierry did not ever parachuted.

On August 23, 2001, after having taken off under a light breeze and having flown over the same seaway, he was in front of the flame at 9:15, but the wind had completely dropped for several seconds. The first approach was too high by 1.50 meter. After a second nightly aerial approach with a figure of eight at 21 km/h instead of 5–7 km/h, he landed flat but could not catch the torch barrier. He then stayed hanging four meters under the flame. He would not be able to perform the three acrobatics that he had prepared for seven years. He was too angered by the impossibility to perform that he forgot to abseil on his own, as was planned after the three jumps. He still blames himself today for not abseiling then.

He took off 1.7 km from Liberty Island in November 2000, and for approximately one minute flew over the flame - a mere centimeters above - together with his acrobatic gear and his rope, but could not land because of strong winds. He finally jettisoned his bungee into the sea and landed on a golf course construction site in Bayonne, New Jersey. The police did not detain him.

In 1994, after another night in the national monument, he was waiting inside the flame with a friend and 60 kg worth of equipment. He was accidentally discovered by the shooting crew of an advertisement. The police took the matter seriously this time when finding him yet again inside the flame despite the increased security measures. A complaint was lodged but no case was made against him even seven years later. The matter was hushed up by the two parties and did not get media coverage.

On June 1993, following thirteen reconnoiters inside the metal structure and with the help of mountain guide and spelunking instructor Simon Destombes, he performed eight jumps above the East River from Brooklyn Bridge.

In 1993, Thierry Devaux spent the night alone inside the Statue. He climbed all the way to the flame for a technical scouting. At 8.00 a.m., he met the only cleaning man allowed to polish the plated flame once a week since 21 years. The police were baffled and the matter was closed.

On February 1992, Thierry, with mountain guide Alain Ledoux, performed a series of nine figures during 1992 Winter Olympics from a cable car of Val-d'Isère on the night of Alberto Tomba's historic victory.

On June 1992, with his lifelong coach Martine Giroud and following an ill-prepared attempt, Thierry made six figures 90 meters above the Pacific from the Golden Gate Bridge.

On October 27, 1991, Thierry Devaux, along with mountain guide Hervé Calvayrac, performed six figures from the second level of the Eiffel Tower, at 115 meters.

Main Spirit Jumping into space does not really interest Thierry Devaux beyond his first jumps in 1989. He uses elastic cord to perform an aesthetical move akin. He performs 8 to 12 acrobatic jumps during two-hour training with the help of his Jumar or with a winch to lift him up. Bungee jumping is an elite sport and requires intensive training.

Thierry used a dynamometer and a variometer as early as November 1988 to measure the distortion of an elastic rope, the various bounces and the forces that the jumper has to endure.

Thierry Devaux was born on November 16, 1959 in Bourg-en-Bresse. He developed acrobatic bungee jumping. His landing on the Statue of Liberty was the feat that gave him a mainstream awarenesse and designed several techniques to transform bungee jumps into sport field.