Paulshof parkour athlete attends inaugural competition in Japan
Thomas Raggett of Paragon Gymnastics Club achieved his best among well-known athletes in the field at the inaugural World Parkour Championships in Tokyo.
A local parkour athlete was proud to have represented his county for the first time in an inaugural championship in Tokyo.
Thomas Raggett (18) who trains at the Paragon Gymnastics Club in Paulshof’s Rivonia Recreation Club was selected to take part in the Parkour World Championships in Japan. He was joined in the country by coaches Richard Marshall and Brett Fuller, as well as parkour athlete Dominique d’Oliviera.
Raggett was beaming with pride at the opportunity to represent South Africa at the inaugural competition. He had finished 30th out of 50 in the freestyle and 28th out of 50 speed run categories.
“I think that the trip was a huge success, and it was an awesome experience. Both Dominique [d’Oliviera] and I enjoyed being there with the best parkour athletes in the world and we learned so much just by watching what they can do,” he said.
“[Regarding his results] Bearing in mind that this was the first time we had competed at that level, and South Africa is relatively new to the sport, I think we did okay. It was the first time I have represented South Africa, and to do so in parkour, so early in the evolution of parkour in the country was very special.”
With the year coming to an end, there is still a lot on the horizon for Raggett and his parkour training and competing in the new year. He said there are a few competitions he is looking to enter.
“There is the Africa Games, which I think is in Egypt, and then there are a couple of cup competitions in France and Bulgaria.”
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