AssetID: 54917606
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Freerunners Hazal Nehir and Lilou Ruel Dazzle In Historic Turkish Cities
Caption: In south-eastern Türkiye, freerunning athletes Hazal Nehir and Lilou Ruel have transformed centuries-old rooftops into their latest stage. Roof Rush, filmed across the historic cities of Mardin and Midyat, merges contemporary movement with the enduring textures of one of Türkiye’s most architecturally rich regions. The project marks a powerful comeback for Turkish athlete Nehir, returning to the sport after a two-and-a-half-year recovery from a serious elbow injury. Her freerunning partner, French athlete Lilou Ruel also made her return to the sport following a two-month break to recover from a wrist injury. Together, the pair traversed sandstone rooftops and ancient ledges with precision, in cities that have overlooked the Mesopotamian plains for millennia. Set high on a plateau, Mardin is a city where time appears to stand still. Once a stronghold along the Silk Road, its skyline—carved from local limestone—shimmers under the Anatolian sun. Minarets, domes and tiered rooftops rise from a cityscape shaped by Assyrian, Roman, Seljuk and Ottoman hands. It was against this backdrop that Nehir and Ruel launched into dynamic sequences at locations including the Zinciriye Madrasa—a 14th-century Islamic seminary famed for its twin minarets and intricate carvings—the Coppersmiths’ Bazaar, the historic hammam, and the city’s labyrinthine alleys. “Mardin is one of the best cities in the world to showcase parkour,” said Nehir. “When I look around, I see rooftops everywhere. This city allowed me to bring out my performance in the best possible way.” Ruel agreed: “It’s really true – there are rooftops as far as the eye can see. The possibilities are endless. It’s clearly a paradise for traceurs.” Every leap, vault and landing echoed across stone that once reverberated with the footsteps of Silk Road caravans. Just 60 kilometres east of Mardin lies Midyat, a quieter but equally mesmerising city. Renowned for its Syriac Christian heritage, it’s a living museum of ancient churches, monasteries, and ornately carved stone mansions. It was in Midyat that Nehir landed her most audacious move to date: a 4.16-metre “Big Cat Leap” from a height of three metres. “It was the longest jump I’ve ever done. I’m very proud to be part of this project in my own country,” she said. For Nehir, Roof Rush marks not just a physical achievement but a personal triumph. “Two and a half years ago, I had a serious injury. I fell from a three-metre height, my elbow came out, and I underwent two surgeries. During my recovery, I couldn’t even watch parkour videos, because the injury happened through a mistake I made,” she admitted. “When I started training again, I was very scared. Most sessions ended in tears because I couldn’t do the things I used to. But Lilou and I completed this project safely, and I think we both pushed ourselves a lot to get there.” Ruel also found deep personal meaning in the project. The French athlete, known globally for her stunt work and for bearing the torch in the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, spent part of her childhood in Türkiye. “Being here means so much to me. I lived in Istanbul from the age of four to six, and Türkiye has always held a special place in my heart. I feel incredibly happy and grateful to be part of a project here,” she said. Despite her recent wrist injury, Ruel dazzled with signature moves: a precision gainer off a four-metre rooftop, a front flip over sandstone balustrades, and nimble footwork along the cornices of ancient religious schools and homes. In Roof Rush, history becomes the playground. From the domes of ancient madrasas to the alleyways of trade routes long gone, every movement by Nehir and Ruel ties the past to the present.
Keywords: feature,red bull,photo,video,parkour,freerunning
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