Free Runners from eight nations gave thousands of fans plenty to cheer about on Sunday evening in front of Japan's tallest building. The historic harbor in front of the Yokohama Tower served as a natural obstacle. Fearless athletes mastered a predetermined course with somersaults, flips and jumps across deep gorges. Free Running icon Jason Paul (GER) triumphed.
The global phenomenon Free Running instantly conquered the hearts of Japan with its first visit here since the sport was established in 2007. In front of an enthusiastic audience, the athletes were able to trade the 295.8 meter high building gorges of New York, Los Angeles, Berlin or London with the monumental boulders, anchor systems and ancient stones of Japan's cultural heritage.
Four jurors evaluated each of the athletes' runs for flow of movement, creativity, style, technique and difficulty. The course in Yokohama relied entirely on the natural setting. The athletes had to overcome a 10-meter height difference between the start and finish.
"We're thrilled to be in Japan and to perform in front of such fantastic fans," said Jason Paul, the winner from Frankfurt. "I had a perfect run today. It takes quite a bit of courage to get through a course like this."
Free running is the number 1 sport on YouTube with more than 20 million uploads each year. Red Bull Art of Motion took place for the first time in 2007 in Vienna (Austria).
Results Yokohama / Japan 2011:
1. Jason Paul (GER)
2. Pasha Petkun (LAT)
3. Kie Willis (UK)
4. Slava Petin (LAT)
5. Zen Shimada (JPN)
6. Lukas Steiner (AUT)
7. Marcus Gustafsson (SWE)
8. Ryan Doyle (UK)
9. Shaun Wood (AUS)
10.Tim Shieff (UK)
12. Shunta Shirai (JPN)
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