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Free runners take on competition | Free runners take on competition |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The best free runners or "urban acrobats" from across the globe have gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to compete in the World Championships. | The best free runners or "urban acrobats" from across the globe have gathered in London's Trafalgar Square to compete in the World Championships. |
Free running uses the urban environment to perform gymnastic movements such as spins, somersaults and vaults. | |
A course has been set up in the square which includes buildings, walls and rails and towers. | A course has been set up in the square which includes buildings, walls and rails and towers. |
There are 27 competitors from countries including Australia, Brazil, Mexico and across Europe. | There are 27 competitors from countries including Australia, Brazil, Mexico and across Europe. |
Free runner Jon Badden told the BBC's Today programme he was inspired to take up the sport after he saw a TV advert showing an office worker climb out of his window and leap from building to building to get home. | Free runner Jon Badden told the BBC's Today programme he was inspired to take up the sport after he saw a TV advert showing an office worker climb out of his window and leap from building to building to get home. |
"I was playing basketball for county, rugby for county, swimming for county and I saw this advert on TV and thought, wow, this guy is amazing - I want to do this. | "I was playing basketball for county, rugby for county, swimming for county and I saw this advert on TV and thought, wow, this guy is amazing - I want to do this. |
This was the advert which inspired many to take up free running | This was the advert which inspired many to take up free running |
"It caught the imagination of quite a lot of young people." | "It caught the imagination of quite a lot of young people." |
In competition contestants are marked in four categories, technical difficulty, execution, creativity and fluidity. | In competition contestants are marked in four categories, technical difficulty, execution, creativity and fluidity. |
The athletes undertake long hours of gruelling training. | The athletes undertake long hours of gruelling training. |
Jon Badden said they frequently pit themselves against the best. | Jon Badden said they frequently pit themselves against the best. |
There is a guy in our team who did a standing jump competition with Jonathan Edwards - the Olympic gold medallist for the triple jump. | There is a guy in our team who did a standing jump competition with Jonathan Edwards - the Olympic gold medallist for the triple jump. |
"He is just a guy who has trained on the streets, and done free running for fun. | "He is just a guy who has trained on the streets, and done free running for fun. |
"He had a longer standing jump. That just shows how much conditioning we do. | "He had a longer standing jump. That just shows how much conditioning we do. |
"The same way we all did the Royal Marines endurance course first time without any training, in marine time." | "The same way we all did the Royal Marines endurance course first time without any training, in marine time." |
The sport originated just over 20 years ago in Paris and was known as Le Parkour. | The sport originated just over 20 years ago in Paris and was known as Le Parkour. |
It also involved urban acrobatics, and was showcased in James Bond film Casino Royale. | It also involved urban acrobatics, and was showcased in James Bond film Casino Royale. |