Unknown Ukranian wins top freerunning competition

Unknown Ukrainian qualifier Alexander Titarenko went from zero to hero as he defeated the world’s best freerunners to take a career-defining victory at Red Bull Art of Motion 2017with the highest score in the competition’s history.

Titarenko was simply known as the guy in the blue shorts at the start of the week, however he shocked the freerunning establishment into remembering his name with his stunning victory.

He served notice that he was a serious contender after wowing the judges and his fellow competitors during the onsite qualifier, and held that winning form through to the all-important finals on the classic whitewashed walls of Art of Motion’s traditional home in Oia, Santorini.

Titarenko dominated with massive moves, flawless flow and confident exuberance.

Delivering a perfect final run, Titarenko set a new all-time Red Bull Art of Motion high score of 415 points, comfortably beating American Nate Weston and local greek hero and former two-time champion Dimitris Kyrsanidis into second and third places. He even took home the Best Trick award, too.

Taking the Best Female award was Russia’s Aleksandra Shevchenko, who bagged her first Red Bull Art of Motion title with a stylish and powerful run.