We just had the pleasure of interviewing Caryl Cordt-Moller, the FIG Parkour World Champion from Switzerland. His journey into parkour is as unique and dynamic as the sport itself. Growing up in a family of artists, Caryl channeled his adventurous spirit into an eclectic range of activities, from archery and curling to field hockey. This passion for exploration, shared with his siblings, paints a picture of a family deeply drawn to unconventional and creative pursuits.
Early Beginnings and Professional Journey
Caryl's parkour journey began naturally in his childhood. At just 10 years old, school breaks became playgrounds of creative movement—jumping, climbing, and experimenting without knowing these acts had a name.
It wasn’t until others recognised his innate talent that he discovered parkour as a discipline. This passion evolved, leading to his debut in international competitions in 2015. Today, Caryl juggles his athletic career with studies in Sport Science at the University of Lausanne. This dual focus reflects his dedication not just to performing but also understanding the theoretical aspects of his craft.
Caryl’s professional parkour achievements are nothing short of exceptional. Representing Switzerland, he has secured multiple world titles:
Adding to his accomplishments, Caryl was one of the featured parkour athletes in the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where he showcased his unique blend of creativity and athleticism to a global audience.
The Essence of Parkour
For Caryl, parkour is far more than athleticism—it’s a form of artistic and mental expression. The sport stands apart with its lack of rigid rules, offering practitioners a unique space to explore their abilities and connect with their environments. It’s this harmonious balance of art, athletics, and urban respect that makes parkour truly special to Caryl and many others.
The Challenges and Rewards of a Parkour Career
Turning parkour into a sustainable career isn’t easy, but Caryl exemplifies how it can be done. With the growing interest from brands like Adidas and the sport's association with the Olympics, opportunities are expanding. Public awareness and respect for parkour are also increasing, as more people appreciate its complexity and discipline.
This rising recognition is mirrored by data from Audiense, which shows a clear upward trend in global interest in parkour. Between May and September 2024, the worldwide share of parkour engagement grew steadily. The sharp increase in visibility during this period highlights a growing appreciation for parkour’s unique blend of creativity and athleticism. This growth points to an exciting future for the sport, with more opportunities for athletes like Caryl to thrive. Caryl notes how this shift is felt during training sessions, where the curious now stop to compliment athletes—a sign that parkour is breaking into mainstream consciousness.
The Role of Technology in Parkour
Technology offers exciting potential for advancing parkour training. The sport requires precise body awareness and mastery of movement, which tools like visualisation software can enhance. For Caryl, these technological aids are instrumental in learning and perfecting complex manoeuvres. We believe that the mastery of this technology could also help with injury prevention.
In the video below, we used Mocapade (by Meshcapade) and rendered Caryl's avatar directly from a video he posted on YouTube.
The Future of Parkour
Caryl envisions the professionalisation of parkour within the next decade. The sport’s growing popularity and its emphasis on respecting urban spaces lay a solid foundation for future growth. As it continues to gain recognition, parkour is poised to inspire new generations of practitioners. The global growth highlighted by platforms like Audiense further underscores this trajectory, showcasing how parkour is evolving from a niche discipline into a mainstream phenomenon.
Advice for Beginners
For those eager to start, Caryl advises beginners to explore resources like YouTube, social media, and local parkour parks. He stresses that parkour isn’t about extreme stunts seen online, like rooftop jumps, but about years of dedicated practice. Many professionals, including Caryl, have spent over a decade honing their skills.
Living the Parkour Lifestyle
To Caryl, parkour is not just a sport—it’s a way of life. Many practitioners, including himself, live and train together, embedding parkour into their daily routines. This communal lifestyle fosters skill-sharing, creativity, and a deeper commitment to the discipline, proving that parkour transcends the confines of a scheduled activity.