Flip the Gap: A Conversation on Women in Parkour
The recent Sydney Sweeney advert selling sex appeal for a gambling company with sports equipment as a mere prop has left many female athletes enraged. Rightly so. Women have had an unrelenting uphill battle of being recognised for more than our bodies. From making strides in appropriate athletic wear for all women, banning invasive camera angles, to calling out comments on weight and appearance from commentators, women in sport have worked tirelessly for decades to break the image that female athletes should be seen for what their bodies can do rather than how they look while doing it.
With controversy comes conversation. The backlash has brought female athletes together and we are currently seeing a huge influx of responses from female athletes showcasing their raw power and skill in their disciplines and posting them online. It has been incredible to see women speak out with pride about their messier moments in sport; showcasing realistic body types (which vary depending on the sport you train for) and highlighting that being an athlete is not all glamorous and comes from hard work, blood, sweat and tears.
[Taken from @/sara . serodio on Instagram]
This has inspired me to share my perspective as a female participant in the sport I love and my dreams of becoming an athlete representing women in parkour in Wales.
Parkour is a male dominated sport, but a welcoming one. This is what sets our community apart from many others: the spirit of celebrating everyone regardless of who they are or their level, respect for commitment, overcoming fear and showing good flow is equally shared between all participants. I have always stood by how welcome I have felt by the crew at Fluidity Freerun Academy, and the support I have had from male coaches and athletes who have encouraged me to progress has built my confidence over many months where I now want to train with others at a higher level.
When taking on challenges, I often find myself standing beside a group of guys staring at a huge jump. Personally, this fuels me as we all encourage each other to have a go and I have never been discouraged from attempting anything I think I can do. I am so grateful to have this level of support from everyone around me, but it is important that I understand my own body so I am not encouraged to push myself too far beyond what I can reasonably do based on my skill and fitness level.
I know that my standing jump may not match some of theirs, but over time I have understood that it is pointless comparing visually as there are so many factors that contribute to whether or not something is in any participant’s capabilities. Experience, skill in tech and training outside can be huge factors that come into play beyond physiological differences between us.
Ultimately, all parkour athletes need to train across multiple areas and maintain a high level of physical strength and power to unlock more in the sport. This will look different to men and women, but it should not hold us back from what we want to achieve, and I would not be in a position to dare to dream to compete if it were not for the boys in my corner!
Here is how we can embody this attitude so all women can feel comfortable in the parkour space, especially when starting out:
Stamp Out Sexism - Ensure you uphold a zero tolerance policy on sexist comments, language or behaviours and enforce it without hesitation. This keeps women safe, but also sends a clear message to everyone in the space that women are respected and uplifted, not merely just welcome. This should apply to all women, so check your equality measures to ensure women with other protected characteristics are equally considered as they will all have differing needs. Ask what these needs are on a case by case basis, and don’t assume you’ve got it covered with a one size fits all approach and keep the conversations open to see what more you can do to make women feel like they belong.
Hire female coaches and staff for your parkour gym - Just like the sports campaign “If she can’t see it, she can’t be it”, representation is vital to encourage others to join. Female coaches offer a unique perspective, relate to your female participants and build a sense of belonging for all women who enter the space. A friendly face or a buddy can make the difference as to whether you will come back for more.
Offer a Women’s Only Class - Ask women who are curious about starting parkour if they would feel more comfortable participating with other women. This can create a safe space to be in our bodies without worrying how we are being perceived and the class can be more easily catered for individual needs. If there isn’t enough interest, you could offer 1 to 1 coaching sessions with a female coach, or break off into a smaller group if needed. What is important is that you ask what participants need - we may not want to be separated from everyone else, so don’t do this without having the conversation first.
Champion female athletes when talking about role models - Language is important and who we don’t talk about is just as important as who we do. We notice when we are left out of the conversation, and this can be alienating. Uplifting female athletes not only levels the playing field, but it can provide role models for others to aspire to and is much more realistic for women to see how they can progress when watching a female compared to a male athlete. Following other female athletes that my male coaches have met in person that are at a higher but achievable level to me has lit a spark for me to keep pushing in the sport so I can get to a point where I will compete just like they are.
If you are looking for some girl power in parkour, check out Femgaps, a group of Female Freerunners based in London who train together and are building a community of other women, recently having held their first jam this year.
Closer to home, Rachel and myself are both coaches here at Fluidity Freerun Academy, so speak to us about getting started in parkour! We are launching a Women’s Only class starting Saturday 7th November 2026. Book online in advance (2 Days!) as it will be running outside our usual opening times, as requested by you!
Go Send,
Demi
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