Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook
Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Free Running Goes Mainstream

World championships raise profile of street sport

By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser User

Posted Aug 3, 2008 4:58 PM CDT
Email

(Newser) – The underground sport of free running—which involves back-flipping, jumping, and running over obstacles—is going mainstream as London plans to host its world championships next month, the Guardian reports. Athletes will run a closed course, but most free runners still use the streets—and Britain is trying to steer them away from roofs and roads before someone gets hurt.

"We are not trying to ruin people's fun, but this is a really dangerous activity," one official told the Guardian. Yet the sport goes beyond the flashy free running stunts that have cropped up in movies like Casino Royale. "To be any good you need to be disciplined and focused," said one freerunner, "People who do it are sensible and serious and there's no unnecessary risk-taking."

David Belle, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as people audition to perform with him in New York city.
David Belle, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as people audition to perform with him in New York city.   (Associated Press)
David Belle, bottom, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as John Rosenberg of Bloomfield, N.J. auditions to perform with him.
David Belle, bottom, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as John Rosenberg of Bloomfield, N.J. auditions to perform with him.   (Associated Press)
David Belle, bottom, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as Adam Krohn, of Houston, auditions to perform with him.
David Belle, bottom, of France who is the world's leading practitioner of Parkour, watches as Adam Krohn, of Houston, auditions to perform with him.   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

Olympian gives free running a try
Guardian (UK)

Free running and parkour take off in US
Associated Press

 
sports • London • James Bond • stunts • free running

More Newser Stories

Bond Girl Born With 12 Fingers

Curses! 9 Totally Unlucky Films
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne