🎯 Top 100 Sporting Moments Series
#97: Robbie Maddison’s Arc de Triomphe Jump – 2009
đź“Ť Las Vegas, USA
🏍️ Arc de Triomphe Replica – Paris Casino
đź“… 2009
Some moments in sport blur the line between skill, bravery, innovation, and pure insanity. Robbie Maddison’s jump onto the Arc de Triomphe replica in Las Vegas is one of those moments — a stunt that redefined what was considered possible on two wheels.
This isn’t just a jump. It’s one of the most daring and memorable feats in extreme sports history, earning its place as #97 in our Top 100 Sporting Moments series.
The Stunt That Looked Impossible
Maddison achieved what most riders would never dare to attempt — he rode his motorcycle onto the top of the Arc de Triomphe replica at the Paris Casino in Las Vegas. The structure stands about 50 metres (165 feet) tall, roughly two thirds the height of the real Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, making the challenge as terrifying as it was spectacular.
In a world where motorcycle stunts are usually about jumping over things, Maddison jumped onto something.
After landing, he lined himself up and rode back off the edge, dropping roughly ten storeys to the ground below. At one point it looked like he might overshoot entirely, only catching it at the last possible moment.
Even Maddison later admitted that, even if someone offered him ÂŁ10,000,000, he would never do it again.
Who Is Robbie Maddison?
Robbie Maddison is an Australian motocross and freestyle rider, widely regarded as one of the most innovative and fearless athletes in extreme sports. His career is packed with major records, medals, and first-ever achievements.
X Games & Red Bull X‑Fighters Success
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X Games Gold in 2004 after completing 13 backflips on a motorcycle
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X Games Silver in 2010 for Best Trick, competing against the world’s top riders
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Red Bull X‑Fighters 2009 World Tour Champion, defeating top competitors including Nate Adams, Mat Rebeaud, and Eigo Sato
These accomplishments highlight Maddison’s elite pedigree in FMX and stunt competition — proving he’s not just a one-off stunt performer, but a record-setting champion.
World Records and Groundbreaking Feats
Robbie Maddison has continually pushed extreme motocross to new heights. His notable records include:
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Longest Motorcycle Jump: 322 feet over a Las Vegas football field
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Longest 125cc Jump: 221 feet
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Superman Seat Grab Jump: 246 feet on a 250cc bike
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Highest Jump Over Water: Jumping the Corinth Canal in Greece, clearing 278 feet
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Water Distance Record: Riding a motorcycle across water for 19.8 miles at 45mph
These feats show Maddison’s incredible versatility — dominating on land, over water, and in highly technical stunts.
The Arc de Triomphe Jump: A Moment of Nerve and Mastery
The Las Vegas jump was not part of a competition. There were no judges, no points, no medals. It was about pushing human and mechanical limits.
Maddison’s precision, timing, and fearlessness turned a death-defying stunt into one of the most iconic moments in motorsport and extreme sports history.
Why This Moment Belongs in the Top 100
Robbie Maddison’s Arc de Triomphe jump represents:
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Innovation
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Fearlessness
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Precision under extreme pressure
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A willingness to attempt the impossible
It is a moment that still leaves viewers in awe, and one of the defining stunts of the modern era.
Part of Our Top 100 Sporting Moments Series
This series is presented in no particular order, celebrating extraordinary achievements, breathtaking feats, and unforgettable moments in sporting history. From football and athletics to motorsport and extreme sports, these are the moments that inspired millions and pushed human performance to new limits.
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Written by Elliot Micallef