Sebastien Foucan: Parkour pioneer on James Bond and the Olympics

French freerunner will never stop, despite entering 40s

Sebastien Foucan is a trail blazer in his chosen field.

Now 40, the Frenchman has been at the forefront of the Parkour movement for nearly 30 years and helped developed its offshoot, freerunning.

But despite edging towards middle age, Foucan - best known for introducing the world to Daniel Craig as James Bond as Mollaka in Casino Royale - says he will not stop leaping between buildings, climbing up lamp posts and darting through the urban landscape.

Parkour, based on military obstacle courses, sees practitioners moving between to points in the most efficient way, whether that be leaping between platforms, crashing down stairs or jumping over things.

Developed in the late 1980s, it grew in popularity throughout the 1990s and 2000s and remains so to this day - walk through most cities in Europe and you can find people leaping between obstacles.

Freerunning, is an offshoot of the discilping.

Foucan says: "Freerunning is my own evolution of Parkou, which I started in the late 1980's when I first met my friend, David Belle. Together, and later with others, we used the environment around us to express ourselves. It became our playground to jump, climb and run. It became a lifestyle.

"[Will you ever stop?] No! Once you start, it becomes part of you and your everyday life, there is no time when you are not doing it."

Some see freerunning as a philosophy as well as a sport, a notion that Foucan thinks is changing.

"I believe it is becoming more of a sport and less of a philosophy but it really depends on the practitioner," he adds.

Foucan filming for Foot Locker

"With the development of coaching qualifications and practice in schools and clubs there has been room for it to grow as a traditional sport for the mainstream.

"It is fantastic that it can be appreciated, and is accessible, for many people in safe environments. For me it the core of the practice will always be the philosophy."

The Parisian also believes the sport will one day grace the biggest stage.

"I believe this will go big like the Olympics, and there will be more schools and clubs where you can learn it."

And what does he remember of Daniel Craig and 007?

"Being in a James Bond film was amazing and unforgettable, I was lucky to be part of this and really happy with the way I performed there. It is a legacy who will stay now with me and this is absolutely fantastic."

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Foot Locker will release over 50 new and exclusive sneakers in store and online for the Week of Greatness (22-29 November). To view Sebastien Foucan’s film celebrating #Greatness go to: YouTube.com/FootLockerEU