He continues: “I moved away from parkour, which I originally founded with my friends in Paris, when I started to feel limitations being imposed on my practice. I think that’s what happens when you create something new.” But for me, what I do is a lifestyle – something I do every single day – and it’s a constant work in progress. People will take freerunning and do it their own way, and I’m OK with that. “Jumping, running, climbing, swinging… it was all here long before I was born. “I’m a pioneer, but I don’t try to own anything,” Foucan explains. In spite of these impressive CV entries, Foucan remains remarkably down to earth – much more interested in exploring the potential of his art form and passing his passion on to others than he is in superstardom or marking his territory. Madonna fans might have spotted him defying gravity in the video for her 2005 single Jump he then toured the world with her on her Confessions tour.

James Bond fans will recognise renowned freerunner Sébastien Foucan as the baddie Mollaka from the opening scenes of the 2006 film Casino Royale.

Parkour scene in casino royale