FULL: VH-THE OLD MAN FLIPPED AT 67 YEARS OLD
PART 1 —THE MAN EVERYONE LAUGHED AT
The late-afternoon sun was still shining over Las Vegas when a private parkour facility began filling with athletes.
The place was built for speed.
Black rubber flooring covered the training area. Concrete obstacles filled the course. Metal rails stretched across the facility, and a tall angled wall stood at the center like the final challenge.
Young American athletes moved from obstacle to obstacle, practicing their routines while coaches watched from the sidelines.
Everyone looked fast.
Everyone looked athletic.
Then an older man walked through the entrance.
He was sixty-seven years old.
And he looked nothing like the people inside.
He was heavily overweight, with a large stomach, broad shoulders, thick arms, and a round face framed by short gray hair.
He wore a loose navy windbreaker, a faded gray T-shirt, black athletic pants, and old white sneakers.
A small duffel bag hung from his shoulder.
He didn't look like an athlete.
He looked like someone who had accidentally walked into the wrong building.
Several young athletes glanced at him.
One of them quietly laughed.
The older man didn't react.
He simply placed his bag near the wall and watched the training.
Then a 24-year-old parkour athlete stepped onto the course.
The young man was lean, muscular, and extremely confident.
He wore a red performance shirt, black parkour pants, and professional training shoes.
He walked toward the angled wall.
The older man immediately focused on him.
The young athlete took several steps backward.
Then he sprinted.
His shoes struck the rubber floor.
He accelerated toward the wall.
A few steps later, he planted himself against it and launched into the air.
For a moment, his body seemed to float.
Then he completed a powerful backward rotation and landed cleanly.
The facility erupted in applause.
The young athlete stood up proudly.
He looked around.
Then his eyes landed on the sixty-seven-year-old man.
The old man was still staring at the wall.
The young athlete smiled.
He walked toward him.
“You think you can do that, old man?”
Several athletes laughed.
One spectator looked at the older man's large stomach and shook his head.
Another athlete whispered,
“He's gotta be kidding.”
The older man remained silent.
The young athlete laughed.
“What?”
Still nothing.
The older man simply looked at the wall.
Then he looked back at the young athlete.
His expression was completely calm.
Finally, he said two words.
“Why not?”
The laughter suddenly became louder.
The young athlete smiled.
“Seriously?”
The older man nodded once.
And then he picked up his duffel bag.
May you like
The laughter slowly faded.
Because he was actually walking toward the course.
