The first ever international Freerunning / Freestyle Moves competition -- Red Bull Art of Motion -- exceeded all expectations at the Meiselmarkt in Vienna, with Great Britain's Ryan Doyle emerging as winner. The competition boasted the 29 best freerunners on earth, amazing obstacles on numerous surfaces and it certainly enthralled and astonished the crowd of 2800 spectators.
AS CREATIVE AS POSSIBLE, AS STYLISH AS FEASIBLE
On the grounds of the 100 year old market in the Viennese city centre, extraordinary conditions prevailed. Ryan Doyle (GB) and his challengers discovered their perfect playground - and reached for their limits - on plateaus, over walls and in between scaffolding. Although Doyle, the fearless Briton, was last to learn of his triumph as he was in the ER of a nearby hospital (see below).
Brought to the public for the first time as a competition, the athletes rated each others breathtaking flips from walls, somersaults over car roofs and spins and jumps from scaffolding. "The crowd and the unique setting had an immensely invigorating effect on me. Everyone reached for their limits here. The rating system was brilliant. To me personally this competition presented the highlight of my sporting career to date", summarises Marcus Gustafsson (SWE), who managed to secure 3rd place.
Following two qualification heats, the final session in particular provided the spectators with an insane show. American Victor Lopez, who has toured with Madonnaw and stars in her current video, commented, "I cannot recall a day which cost me so much energy. Particularly the parcour entrance over the house wall was a real challenge."
Lopez rejoiced at his second place, and the Swede Marcus Gustafsson enjoyed the Viennese limelight and offered a beaming smile from his third podium place.
The victorious Briton, Ryan Doyle, was already lying on an x-ray table. After an amazingly spectacular performance, Doyle unluckily injured himself in the final session during his last move and thus set off for home with a beat-up lower leg.
"My final move was to be a double corkscrew from the roof but unfortunately I miscalculated. By the time I heard I had won in the hospital the whole issue had been proven not too serious" Doyle beamed with tears of joy in his eyes.