Shang Chunsong of China competes during the Women's Freestyle Final of Parkour event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
CHENGDU, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- "Now I really want some hotpot - something spicy," Shang Chunsong said with a relieved grin after winning the women's freestyle parkour gold at The World Games 2025 on Wednesday, completing her Grand Slam in the sport.
For Shang, the 29-year-old former captain of China's national women's gymnastics team, the medal was more than a title - it was closure. Shang had won numerous international gymnastics medals and even created a vault move named after herself, but Olympic and world championship gold had always eluded her.
"Parkour gives me a second life," she said. "I love the joy and freedom of it. My life now is undefined - so different from the gymnastics stage."
"UNLUCKY" GYMNAST WITH UNSHAKABLE RESOLVE
Born in a remote mountain village in Zhangjiajie, Hunan Province, Shang was a spirited child who learned somersaults from her father. At six, a relative introduced her to gymnastics.
According to Huang Wei, her first coach, she lacked natural talent: her knees protruded, her toes wouldn't straighten, and stretching brought her to tears.
Quitting never crossed her mind. "If I gave up, I'd spend my whole life in that small village. I wanted to change my fate and help my family," she said.
Her grit carried her to the national team in 2010. National and Asian titles followed in 2012, but at the 2013 World Championships, a mistake under pressure cost her gold.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, she developed a fever upon arrival yet still competed, winning bronze in the team event but missing an individual medal by just 0.114 points.
"Sometimes I felt I was always just short of luck," she said. After retiring in 2017 due to injuries and age, Shang sank into a slump - staying home, eating, sleeping and gaining more than 10kg.
FINDING HERSELF IN PARKOUR
Her competitive spark returned in 2019 with a national title, and by 2023 fans were calling her "Never-old Song." But it was in 2022, while studying physical education at Central China Normal University, that she discovered parkour.
"The athletes could run across rooftops and walls like martial arts heroes - it was so cool," she recalled.
The sport's creativity and freedom hooked her instantly. "Gymnastics is competition. Parkour is performance where you can add your own ideas," she said.
With her gymnastics background, she quickly mastered flips, arm jumps and rotations, including a rare 720-degree spin that few women can perform.
Along the way, she found something gymnastics had never given her - a circle of friends from all walks of life, including IT workers, subway drivers and students.
"I used to know so little about the world and didn't know how to talk to people. Now I have friends, freedom, and a new kind of happiness - all thanks to parkour," she said.
MORE THAN MEDALS
In less than three years, Shang has won the World Cup, World Championship and the World Games - a Grand Slam achievement for China's parkour.
Her titles have earned her recognition in the freerunning community, but Shang has never considered making a living as a parkour coach.
"I'm still a beginner, trying to shape my own style," she said. "One day, I hope to be recognized by more top-level freerunners - not just for my results on the course."
Beyond proving that China's parkour is competitive on the world stage, Shang hopes her World Games gold will inspire more Chinese people to take up the sport.
"Parkour is gaining momentum in China. We have more clubs, more young enthusiasts, and even some schools in Chengdu offering parkour classes," she said. "I believe it will make the Olympics one day - and when it does, I'll be ready to fight for China with my own style."
For Shang, parkour mirrors her life. "There's no set path or standard answer," she said. "You face your fears, push through endless obstacles, and go beyond your limits. Life is the same - full of ups and downs. But if you grit your teeth and keep going, you'll get through." ■
Gold medalist Shang Chunsong (C) of China, silver medalist Nagai Nene (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Sara Banchoff Tzancoff of Argentina pose during the awarding ceremony for the Women's Freestyle of Parkour event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Gold medalist Shang Chunsong of China poses during the awarding ceremony for the Women's Freestyle of Parkour event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Shang Chunsong of China reacts after the Women's Freestyle Final of Parkour event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
Gold medalist Shang Chunsong (C) of China, silver medalist Nagai Nene (L) of Japan and bronze medalist Sara Banchoff Tzancoff of Argentina pose during the awarding ceremony for the Women's Freestyle of Parkour event at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jianan)
微信扫描下方的二维码阅读本文
