Earlier this month, the world’s top freerunners descended upon the Greek island of Santorini for the Art of Motion contest to flip and leap their way into the competition annals with thousands watching from the rooftops and balconies. In its sixth iteration, the competition has become a right of passage for those looking to make their way in the nascent sport.
Against the picturesque backdrop, Bart van der Linden notched first place while raising the bar for the sport (also called parkour) with his tight routine. The talented Dutchman soared above the rest of the competitors with a technical run and awe-inspiring flow. “I can’t believe this is even real! I told myself to remain true to my own style, do my thing and that’s what got me to the first place,” said the new champion. “I’m the happiest person in the world right now!”
The top three was rounded out by Americans Alfred Scott and Joey Adrian. Scott also landed a perfect “cast gainer” to earn him the Best Trick award from the entire event. Hailing from Luxembourg, Lynn Lung won the Best Female award for her superb routine, representing the growing female freerunning community.
Art of Motion returned to Oia, set above the stunning Amoudi bay, with the world’s best 18 freerunners after holding the event in the same Mediterranean location last year. The competition brought together athletes from 13 different countries with more than 3,000 fans. Take a look at some of the best photos from the competition below. For more on the Art of Motion, click here.
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