Athletes flip and slide at parkour competition

The sound of feet hitting the ground echoed as Shang Chunsong, a former captain of China's national women's gymnastics team and an Olympic bronze medalist, performed flips and somersaults during an international parkour competition at the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area over the weekend.

The 28-year-old, a native of Zhangjiajie, Hunan province, impressed viewers as one of only two female competitors among more than 70 athletes from around the world. Unlike gymnastics, where she performed on cushioned floors, Shang faced the challenge of landing on hard surfaces in parkour.

Shang began practicing parkour three years ago and has since competed in events both domestically and internationally. She noted that parkour comes with more injuries and bleeding compared to gymnastics, but also makes her braver.

"By trying again and again, I overcome difficulties and grow," she said.

The parkour competition at Tianmen Mountain, held on Saturday and Sunday, featured one of the most challenging courses in the world.

Competitors were tasked with descending nearly 300 meters from the top of a 999-step staircase leading to the iconic Tianmen Cave. More than 100 sets of obstacles, including blocks and slides, were placed on the stairs. Each contestant worked to maintain their balance while also descending as quickly as possible.

The winner, who reached the bottom in the fastest time, was Chinese athlete Li Yiqi, who finished the course in 1 minute and 36 seconds. Fellow Chinese athlete Li Jintao was second, just 0.2 of a second behind, and Yang Xiaoqiang, another Chinese athlete was third, in 1 minute 38 seconds.

A separate event judged competitors on their parkour skills, with a panel of judges scoring performances based on routines that included maneuvers such as kong vaults, laches, palm spins, side flips and wall runs.

Argentine athlete Lautaro Chialvo won the skills competition, followed by Chinese athlete Yang Xiaoqiang and Japanese athlete Sei Asakura.

This year was the third time the competition has been held at the Tianmen Mountain Scenic Area, with the unique terrain adding to the challenge and excitement. It was also the third time Shang participated.

"Compared to the last two times, I am less scared this time," she said. "I was terrified before to compete in the course, as I was not so skilled in parkour."

Krystian Kowalewski of Poland, who celebrated his 28th birthday at the competition, finished in seventh place in the skills event.

"It's my second time here. Last year, I was really impressed, like wow. This year is the same, it's just wow," he said, adding that the course is "the craziest speed parkour competition ever".

Luke Mizel, 22, from the United States, described the parkour course in Zhangjiajie as the biggest he had ever seen.

"Very, very beautiful. Nothing like it, only exists in China," he said. "The Chinese athletes are very talented, they're all very, very good. A lot of them surprised me with how good they were. Did very good, powerful tricks. I was impressed."

Zhang Chao, 25, suffered a minor ankle injury in the qualifying competition on Saturday but still managed to compete in Sunday's final. He said parkour helps him concentrate.

"When I practice and compete, I only focus on myself and the moves," he said. "Every time I finish the competition or successfully make a new move, it's a new breakthrough."

Zhang said the level of Chinese parkour athletes is catching up with high-level international competitors, and that participating in such international competitions is a good way to learn from the best.

Asakura, from Japan, said it was his first time in Zhangjiajie, and he was struck by the natural beauty of the venue.

"I'm not a very expressive person, so practicing parkour is my way to express my feelings," he said.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn