0:00:17 > 0:00:19We're all used to walking on the ground,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22but imagine if you could use the rooftops as your highway!
0:00:22 > 0:00:24Imagine if you could jump from building to building,
0:00:24 > 0:00:28balance on anything, you would be a superhero.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31A superhero like Catwoman,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34who uses her cat-like reflexes, balance,
0:00:34 > 0:00:36and flexibility to fight evil.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40But I've heard of a real person with unbelievable agility,
0:00:40 > 0:00:44a woman with supreme balance who always lands on her feet.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47A real-life Catwoman.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Luci Romberg became a champion gymnast
0:00:50 > 0:00:53when she was just a teenager, but didn't stop there.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Luci took to the streets to learn the art of free running.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59She became so incredibly daring and agile
0:00:59 > 0:01:01that she was soon spotted by movie makers.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05Luci now works as a stuntwoman in Hollywood.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Tim has travelled all the way to California in the USA
0:01:09 > 0:01:12to find out if Luci is a real-life Catwoman.
0:01:13 > 0:01:17Wow, Luci, I'm so excited to meet you. Are you Catwoman?
0:01:17 > 0:01:19You know what? I try to be,
0:01:19 > 0:01:21I just like jumping around and having fun, so...
0:01:21 > 0:01:23For anyone who's not seen free running before,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27can you just give us a very brief outline of what free running is?
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Yeah, sure, so basically, free running is about efficient
0:01:30 > 0:01:33movement, getting from point A to point B as fast as you can,
0:01:33 > 0:01:35and adding flips and style and creative movements.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39I consider myself a free runner just cos I like to flip.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42Would you be up for doing three Super Tests so that we can see your
0:01:42 > 0:01:45amazing abilities, and to see just how like Catwoman you really are?
0:01:45 > 0:01:47- It sounds awesome!- Let's do it!
0:01:47 > 0:01:49This is Dr Megan John.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52She's an expedition doctor and has kept people alive while they've
0:01:52 > 0:01:56attempted some of the most dangerous activities you can imagine.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00She's created three Super Tests to try and find out
0:02:00 > 0:02:03what makes Luci Romberg so special.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08Wow! What is this place?
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Well, Tim, I brought you and Luci to the Tempest Free Running Academy.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15It's where people like Luci come to train
0:02:15 > 0:02:16and study how to do free running.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22Free running is extremely dangerous, it involves jumping, leaping,
0:02:22 > 0:02:26landing, flipping and spinning in mid-air over streets
0:02:26 > 0:02:30and buildings. It would be easy to land badly and break something.
0:02:30 > 0:02:32Because of the risks involved,
0:02:32 > 0:02:37Dr Megan has chosen the Free Running Academy for Super Test One,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39as it's got special springy floors for landing.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48One of the really important things about free running is
0:02:48 > 0:02:50the ability to land from heights.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52You're not afraid of heights, are you, Tim?
0:02:52 > 0:02:55Well, I don't like heights, but, you know... Why?
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Super Test One is going to test how hard Tim and Luci land
0:03:00 > 0:03:02while jumping from different heights.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06They're going to start by jumping from a block almost a metre high.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09The next block they jump from will be twice as high.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11And finally, if Dr Megan thinks it's safe, they will jump
0:03:11 > 0:03:15from a wall standing an incredibly dangerous three metres high.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19- Do you think you're willing to give it a go?- Yeah, sounds fun.- Let's go!
0:03:20 > 0:03:23When you land, your feet push down on the ground
0:03:23 > 0:03:25and the ground pushes back on your feet.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28This pushing is called force.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31Dr Megan will be using special equipment called
0:03:31 > 0:03:34accelerometers to measure the force that goes through Luci
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and Tim's bodies when they hit the ground.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40When you take a really big jump, so big impact, which I can measure by
0:03:40 > 0:03:45just wiggling it here, you see I get a really big change on the graph.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48- That's cool.- I'm going to be attaching one to your ankle
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and one to your lower back, and we'll see how your bodies cope.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Are they the two areas that take the most impact? The ankles and back?
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Exactly, and if the force is too great, then you could risk breaking
0:03:58 > 0:04:02a bone, so I need to see exactly how much force you're getting.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06I also have a slow-motion camera that I'm going to be
0:04:06 > 0:04:08pointing at you guys when you do your landing.
0:04:08 > 0:04:12That means I can look at it all in really slow motion in more
0:04:12 > 0:04:16detail and see how different areas of your body are moving
0:04:16 > 0:04:17to cushion your landing.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21The higher up you jump from,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23the more likely you are to hurt yourself.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27If you don't land properly, you could sprain your ankles or knees.
0:04:27 > 0:04:30If you land on a hard surface like concrete, you could break
0:04:30 > 0:04:34a bone or even damage your spine. This could leave you paralysed.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37With a really bad landing, you could hit your head
0:04:37 > 0:04:41and possibly injure your brain, and you could die.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45One metre high for the first challenge. Are you ready to go, Tim?
0:04:45 > 0:04:47I'm ready to go. Let's do this.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Even if you are lucky enough to have a special springy floor at home,
0:04:51 > 0:04:53don't try this - you could hurt yourself!
0:04:54 > 0:04:57- So are you ready, Tim? - Yep.- And jump!
0:04:59 > 0:05:02- How did that feel?- I just sort of went really rigid.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05Yeah, you let your chest drop a little bit
0:05:05 > 0:05:07so you might have a little bit more impact on your back.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11So looking at the data from the one metre jump you did, Tim,
0:05:11 > 0:05:13I can see already there's a lot of pressure going
0:05:13 > 0:05:15through your ankles, your knees and your lower back.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19Tim's bad landing means a lot of force went through his body.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23When you land after a jump, the force of the landing travels
0:05:23 > 0:05:27up through your bones, into your legs, and up into your back.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29At the end of each bone, there's a hard, slippery substance
0:05:29 > 0:05:31and it's called cartilage.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35The cartilage is filled with squishy gel which acts like a cushion,
0:05:35 > 0:05:38stopping your bones banging together and getting damaged.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40But if you land very hard,
0:05:40 > 0:05:44the cartilage isn't thick enough to stop your bones from breaking.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48So, Luci, you're all rigged up with equipment and ready to go.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- Are you happy?- Yeah, of course. - And jump.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56Luci, you made that look so easy and elegant.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00It was amazing watching the landing cos you landed and went right down,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04and you even used your hands, it seems, to take some of the force.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Yes, so I mean, basically, my idea was to spread it out
0:06:07 > 0:06:10through my entire body so that everything was taking the impact.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13Whereas I just landed on my toes and everything else went rigid.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16I've already got the data from your jump, Luci, and comparing it to
0:06:16 > 0:06:19Tim, I can see that your body's taking a lot less impact,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22a lot less force is running through your ankles and your lower back.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Tim's landing put a lot of force on his body.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29The next jump is twice as high.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33If Tim doesn't land more softly, he could really hurt himself here.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38And I must remember that when you landed from one metre,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41you went right down, so I'm going to try that.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Yeah, yeah. I mean, just land as quietly and softly as you can.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47- OK.- The less impact the better, right?
0:06:47 > 0:06:52- Yeah, the less impact the better. - You got it. You can do it.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56This jump is about the height of your front door.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57Now, that is really high!
0:06:57 > 0:07:01If Tim doesn't land well here, he could easily break a bone.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Careful, Tim!
0:07:02 > 0:07:07The forces through your body will be twice what they were before, Tim.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- You ready?- I'm ready.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11Jump!
0:07:16 > 0:07:18How did that feel, Tim?
0:07:18 > 0:07:21Yeah, I made it. It wasn't that clean, I think we'd say.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- I think it was great!- Really?- Yeah!
0:07:23 > 0:07:26Especially for your first time, I thought it was really good.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29- I'm impressed.- Well, I didn't injure myself, that's a win.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- Success, right?- Yeah, I'm a winner!
0:07:32 > 0:07:34Despite Tim's new technique,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38this landing put a dangerous amount of force through his body.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42But Luci is used to jumping from much higher.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48And three, two, one.
0:07:48 > 0:07:49Jump!
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Whoa! That was cool.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00And Dr Megan's graph shows that her incredible roll has
0:08:00 > 0:08:02cushioned her landing.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06Tim, your body is taking a lot of force going through your ankles
0:08:06 > 0:08:07and your lower back.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11Luci, I'm still happy that your body is coping with this really well.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It must be your technique.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18As you fall through the air, you get faster and faster.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20So the higher the jump, the faster you'll be travelling
0:08:20 > 0:08:22when you hit the ground.
0:08:22 > 0:08:26The next jump in Super Test One is a terrifying three metres high.
0:08:26 > 0:08:31If Tim wants to attempt it, he needs to need to learn Luci's technique.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Basically, what we do is, we aim with our shoulder,
0:08:33 > 0:08:35we call it a PK or a shoulder roll.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38So we aim with our shoulder, you want to keep your chest down.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I use my arms too to cushion my body, too.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45OK, so you're in control of everything right the way through
0:08:45 > 0:08:48that, aren't you? From the minute you're there,
0:08:48 > 0:08:50to the minute you're standing up again.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54I try. You want to try it? Practice makes perfect, right?
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- There you go, good.- That felt good.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- How that feel?- That felt really good. Yeah, that's really good.
0:08:59 > 0:09:00I felt I rolled across, across...
0:09:00 > 0:09:02Yeah, you didn't hit your head or your spine.
0:09:02 > 0:09:04- No, I didn't hit my head at all!- Cool.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Performing a roll like this allows you to spread
0:09:07 > 0:09:09the force of landing over your whole body.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13When you're falling fast and land on your feet,
0:09:13 > 0:09:16your body stops very suddenly.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19This puts the greatest amount of force on the bones
0:09:19 > 0:09:21and cartilage in your legs and spine.
0:09:21 > 0:09:23But when you land with a roll,
0:09:23 > 0:09:27your body keeps moving and then slows down gradually.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30This allows your body to spread the force.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Your legs take some of the force first.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Then your hands, your shoulder and your back take the rest.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38So, Tim, are you ready to go?
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Yeah, let me get this right in my head.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44Land on my toes, roll, go.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Tim is going to attempt the jump again using Luci's roll technique,
0:09:48 > 0:09:49but if he can't reduce the force,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53Dr Megan will not allow him to jump from three metres.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- So on my count.- Yeah.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Three, two, one,
0:09:59 > 0:10:00and jump!
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Well, it's not graceful.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Yeah, he's spot-on, it's certainly not graceful,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13but has it reduced the force in his legs and back?
0:10:13 > 0:10:16So I've got the differences in the data between
0:10:16 > 0:10:18when you did the jump with and without the roll.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21The roll certainly reduced the impact
0:10:21 > 0:10:25and the forces on your joints, but even with that, I'm not happy
0:10:25 > 0:10:27for you to do this at three metres, Tim.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30I think there's a very real risk that you could break some bones.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33So, Luci, this one's just for you.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Yeah, let's do it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38The final jump is an incredible three metres high
0:10:38 > 0:10:42and a fall from this height could kill you.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Don't try this at home. Remember, Dr Megan has chosen
0:10:45 > 0:10:47the Free Running Academy because it's got those special,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50springy floors for landing.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53- Are you ready to go?- Ready. - So on my count.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Three, two, one.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58And jump.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05Whoa! Amazingly, from such an unbelievable height,
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Luci flies through the air, landing in the perfect roll.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Oh, Luci, fantastic.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14It's incredible that you managed to not only to deal with that height,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18but you do it so gracefully, too. So even at three metres, the force
0:11:18 > 0:11:22going through your body, Luci, is less than Tim showed at two.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25I wonder if that's your training, or if it's how your body's built.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29So, how does Luci do it?
0:11:31 > 0:11:34To land perfectly, you need to begin your roll at the exact
0:11:34 > 0:11:37split second your feet start to touch the ground.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41So when you jump, your eyes look to the ground and send messages to
0:11:41 > 0:11:46your brain, and it tries to work how far and how fast you're falling.
0:11:46 > 0:11:48But most of us get it wrong because
0:11:48 > 0:11:50we can't time our landings precisely enough.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54Luci has years of being a gymnast, so her brain has practised
0:11:54 > 0:11:58and learnt to time her roll down to a fraction of a second.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05All the data suggests that Luci's skeleton, her muscles, her tendons,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09her ligaments, have adapted to let her deal with such high forces.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Actually, Luci can jump from rooftops.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14If an average person jumped off a rooftop,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16the force going through their joints when they landed would be
0:12:16 > 0:12:20so great it could break bones, but Luci's no normal human.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24My landings might not be up to much, but for one person,
0:12:24 > 0:12:29her ability to land from heights saved her life.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31World champion paraglider Ewa Wisnierska
0:12:31 > 0:12:33was practising in Australia.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37She was sucked into a thunderstorm and thrown six miles into the air.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Unable to breathe properly,
0:12:39 > 0:12:43she passed out in ice-cold temperatures, 40 degrees below zero.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47As the paraglider began hurtling to the ground, she woke up.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Realising she was falling, Ewa focused quickly.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53Incredibly, her experience and fast reactions meant
0:12:53 > 0:12:57she managed to land safely from a height higher than Mount Everest.
0:12:57 > 0:13:02From certain death, Ewa escaped with only frostbite and swollen legs.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Tim and Luci have headed over to the beach
0:13:08 > 0:13:10for Dr Megan's next Super Test.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Tim, to be a free runner, you've got to have great balance and agility,
0:13:14 > 0:13:16so do you think you've got the balance
0:13:16 > 0:13:19and the cat-like ability to get across this bar?
0:13:19 > 0:13:23- I'll try.- And, Luci, I'm guessing you're going to make this look easy.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25I think it's going to be fun.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30When you balance on something really narrow, your brain needs to
0:13:30 > 0:13:33work extra hard to control all your different muscles.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36So in this Super Test, Dr Megan is going to be looking at what's
0:13:36 > 0:13:39going on in Tim and Luci's brains.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43It's quite hard for me to tell from looking at you two from the outside,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45what's going on inside your brains
0:13:45 > 0:13:47and how hard you're having to concentrate.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50So I've got some really exciting equipment with me today,
0:13:50 > 0:13:52which I'll be fitting the two of you with
0:13:52 > 0:13:56and I'll be seeing how you manage each of the challenges I've set.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59The equipment is going to measure the different types
0:13:59 > 0:14:02of electrical signals being sent out by your brain to your body.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05So if you're concentrating really hard to complete one of the
0:14:05 > 0:14:09challenges I've set you, I'm going to see the red line go higher.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12These bars aren't normally used for balancing on,
0:14:12 > 0:14:15but we've had expert help and used safety equipment to make sure the
0:14:15 > 0:14:19test is done safely, because a fall from even a low height is dangerous.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Balancing on a narrow beam is tricky, and it's even harder
0:14:24 > 0:14:26when it's high up.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29If your foot slips, you could land on the beam and get bruises,
0:14:29 > 0:14:31cuts or grazes. Losing your balance
0:14:31 > 0:14:34and landing heavily on the ground could break a bone.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37If you fall backwards, your back could land on the beam
0:14:37 > 0:14:41and really damage your spine, possibly leaving you unable to walk.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45Or you could fall and hit your head hard, which could knock you out
0:14:45 > 0:14:47or cause concussion. And concussion can be fatal.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56The first challenge is to crawl along the beam, and Tim's up first.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01So already, even at the low level of the bar,
0:15:01 > 0:15:03the red part of the graph went higher.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06That means he's already having to concentrate quite hard
0:15:06 > 0:15:07to do the challenge.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12The information I'm getting from his band is supporting what
0:15:12 > 0:15:14I thought was going to happen.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17He's really focusing and if you can see that graph,
0:15:17 > 0:15:18the line's jumped right up.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26- How did that feel? - I really enjoyed the balance
0:15:26 > 0:15:30but I do feel like I'm constantly trying to control muscles
0:15:30 > 0:15:34and keep going and keep balanced and stay on the thing.
0:15:34 > 0:15:37Even from here, I could see you were having to concentrate a lot harder.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40- Right.- But I've got some great data which supports that.- OK.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43So, as soon as you got onto that bar, there was a real peak
0:15:43 > 0:15:47in activity and it stayed high for the whole time.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50And if you look here, where you came off, immediately you became
0:15:50 > 0:15:51- more comfortable.- Yeah.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54Tim's brain needed to work really hard
0:15:54 > 0:15:56to keep him balanced on the bar.
0:15:56 > 0:16:01To balance, you use information from your eyes and your inner ears.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05When you start to wobble, your eyes and ears send signals to eight
0:16:05 > 0:16:08pea-sized areas in the middle of your brain
0:16:08 > 0:16:10called the vestibular nuclei.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14These nuclei work out if you are moving and in which direction.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18If you are falling, they will quickly send signals to your muscles
0:16:18 > 0:16:20to move your body and try to steady yourself.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Balancing on something narrow takes a lot of brain power.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28So, Luci, you're up next. It's going to be really interesting to see how
0:16:28 > 0:16:30your data compares to Tim's.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37So barely any change at all in the graph with her.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Whoa, Luci is fast.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Now, that's just showing off.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47- How you feeling, Luci?- Good.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49So we've got the data to have a look at.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53It's really interesting cos Tim's was high throughout the whole thing.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56You took that as if you were just walking in the park!
0:16:58 > 0:16:59The next part of Super Test Two
0:16:59 > 0:17:02is even more difficult than the last one.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04So what will Tim think about it?
0:17:04 > 0:17:05I'm not entirely happy about this.
0:17:05 > 0:17:07This is way thinner than it was before to balance on,
0:17:07 > 0:17:09and there's a huge big jump at the end,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12neither of which look like I'm going to be able to do them.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14I've got to be honest, I don't think I'm going to do too well,
0:17:14 > 0:17:19- but I'm going to try.- Tim, you happy to go?- Yeah.- Good luck.- OK.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30Whoa!
0:17:30 > 0:17:31HE LAUGHS
0:17:31 > 0:17:35Tim's fallen off, but he's not giving up.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Whoa!
0:17:47 > 0:17:49Oh...OK.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59- It's harder to interpret but...- Oh, nearly!
0:17:59 > 0:18:01He's getting a lot more confident.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08See what happens as soon as he takes his hand off.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11Yep, a little spike there.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Oh, dear! Tim is very unstable and in real danger of hurting himself.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Ow!
0:18:23 > 0:18:26It just shows, you really have to be good at this free running thing.
0:18:26 > 0:18:30I totally clattered my shin on that thin metal bar.
0:18:30 > 0:18:31Ow!
0:18:31 > 0:18:34I've now got a bit of a cut there, and possibly
0:18:34 > 0:18:36a bit of a bruise coming, as well.
0:18:39 > 0:18:41Tim's sixth attempt.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47Every time he's doing this, he's letting another surge of
0:18:47 > 0:18:49adrenalin go, he's getting tireder
0:18:49 > 0:18:52and tireder and, actually, therefore the risk is higher and higher.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58When you're high up, your brain knows you could fall.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01So it makes your body release a chemical called adrenaline.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05Adrenaline makes your heart pump faster, your lungs work harder,
0:19:05 > 0:19:08and your muscles tense up so that your body is ready to
0:19:08 > 0:19:09run away from danger.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12But when you're trying to balance, you don't need to run,
0:19:12 > 0:19:15and too much adrenaline could make your muscles start to shake,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18making it even more difficult to balance.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Yay!
0:19:22 > 0:19:24OK, next one.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28OK.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Now I've got to jump across to the wall.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Oh! Yeah!
0:19:41 > 0:19:45- Well done, Tim!- Blimey! - You didn't make it look easy.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48It's not that easy, it's really not that easy.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51It's very, very thin. The balancing, I was rubbish at that.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Oh, nearly!
0:19:53 > 0:19:56I tried really hard, I kept going up and I kept trying it.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59The jumping - really like the jumping. That was great.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06OK, so Tim completed the test in six attempts, but he used a lot of
0:20:06 > 0:20:11brain power and cut his shin. Can Luci do any better?
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I'm looking forward to seeing how Luci copes.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Are you ready, Luci?- Ready. - In your own time.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Ah, this is more like it.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27Luci is perfectly balanced on the bar, and lands softly on the wall.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Whoa, tiny wobble, there.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33But she's definitely showing incredibly agility.
0:20:33 > 0:20:34She's not going to fall.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Luci did you even notice you were doing that?
0:20:39 > 0:20:42It was fun, if that's what you're asking.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46You hardly reacted at all on your line, not at all surprisingly.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49And now you're back here, of course. You're more stressed
0:20:49 > 0:20:53- being in my presence than you were doing the challenge.- Nice.
0:20:53 > 0:20:58It was amazing to see how effortless Super Test Two was for Luci.
0:20:58 > 0:21:03With poise and grace, she breezed through the test. Top marks!
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Megan's balancing challenge was tough,
0:21:08 > 0:21:11but some people do this sort thing for, well, honey.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14The Bayaka tribe live in the forests of Central Africa
0:21:14 > 0:21:16where sweet things are so rare,
0:21:16 > 0:21:19people are willing to risk their lives collecting honey.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21When a beehive is spotted,
0:21:21 > 0:21:24tribesmen climb trees up to 40 metres high to reach it.
0:21:24 > 0:21:27They use incredible cat-like balancing to
0:21:27 > 0:21:30walk along the highest branches without ropes or a harness.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33On reaching the hive, tribesmen scoop out the honeycomb.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36And despite being stung by angry swarms of bees,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39they are agile enough to make it safely back down to the bottom of
0:21:39 > 0:21:43the tree and enjoy their well-earned honey feast with their family.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Super Test Three, I've brought the two of you to
0:21:49 > 0:21:51Pershing Square in Downtown LA.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54It's a favourite location for free runners.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57You'll see it in movies, even on computer games.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I want to see what you've learnt, Tim, from Super Test One and Two,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05and Luci, it's going to give you a chance to show us your skills.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08So I've set up a course all around the square.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10In order to complete the course, you'll need to
0:22:10 > 0:22:13use your landings to absorb the shock
0:22:13 > 0:22:16and your balance to get over the obstacles.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19Normally, Luci jumps from great heights,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22but we can't expect Tim to do that safely, so the course that
0:22:22 > 0:22:26Dr Megan's designed is low-level. But there are still some tricky
0:22:26 > 0:22:30challenges, so you shouldn't try anything like this at home!
0:22:30 > 0:22:33They'll start with a long, narrow wall, then
0:22:33 > 0:22:38they'll have a cannon, a concrete square, several more walls,
0:22:38 > 0:22:42a flower pot, and end here at the stone ball.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- Do you think you can do that, Tim? - I'll try.- And Luci?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- Yeah, it'll be fun! - Well, let's go then!
0:22:49 > 0:22:53Free runners are judged on how creative their moves are,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56how difficult their moves are, how well they perform their moves,
0:22:56 > 0:23:00and how well they manage to keep moving smoothly.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Tim and Luci will each try their best to free run the course
0:23:03 > 0:23:04following these goals.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08The best free runners are always really respectful of other
0:23:08 > 0:23:10people's property. So, basically,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12don't go wrecking your neighbour's back garden.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Up first is Tim.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21Three, two, one, go!
0:23:25 > 0:23:31OK, so Tim has to navigate his way along this very narrow wall.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34He's really having to focus to keep his balance.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41So he's gone off the balance challenge.
0:23:41 > 0:23:44We've got the first big jump coming up.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50Tim did clear the cannon, but I don't think he'd score much for
0:23:50 > 0:23:54creativity or the difficulty of this move.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57So, big peak there of the pressure on his ankles.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Tim goes through the concrete square with absolutely no flair.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05Come on, Tim!
0:24:05 > 0:24:06He's looking really tired,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09he's really having to focus coming over this jump.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Woo! that was quite a cool roll he pulled off, there,
0:24:12 > 0:24:15going over the wall. It was a bit clumsy but it would
0:24:15 > 0:24:18get him some points in a free running competition. Well done.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Tim's now concentrating more on speed than performing
0:24:22 > 0:24:26difficult moves, as he legs it round the course marker.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28He's on the home straight.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30He's coming up to the large plant pot,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33will he be able to include it into his free running?
0:24:34 > 0:24:37No, he's bottled it, not taking the chance to land on it,
0:24:37 > 0:24:39which could have been a cool free running move!
0:24:39 > 0:24:42Tim's on the final straight now. Keep going, Tim.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43You're doing really well!
0:24:45 > 0:24:46It's a clean jump over the gap,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49but has he got a big finale up his sleeve?
0:24:50 > 0:24:52Oh. Not quite.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57- Fantastic! Well done, Tim. How are you?- Pretty tired.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Get yourself up, so that you get good lots of air into your lungs.
0:25:00 > 0:25:06I'm pretty tired. The last landing was bad, absolutely horrific.
0:25:06 > 0:25:11I landed on my heels, I jarred everything. That was bad.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12You landed heel-heavy.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16It really was heavy, it was like "doof," you know. But good.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18I think you gave it a pretty good shot,
0:25:18 > 0:25:21but, Luci, are you going to show him how it should really have been done?
0:25:21 > 0:25:24- I hope so, I don't know, he did pretty good!- Ha-ha-ha.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28Although Tim kept moving and tried a flashy forward roll,
0:25:28 > 0:25:31he wouldn't have got many points for creativity
0:25:31 > 0:25:34and he didn't attempt any really difficult moves.
0:25:34 > 0:25:35What will Luci give us?
0:25:37 > 0:25:41Three, two, one and go!
0:25:43 > 0:25:48Whoa, straightaway, and Luci shows off her cat-like balancing skills.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51So already, we can see that Luci's barely having to think to get
0:25:51 > 0:25:55over the balance challenge, she's speeding through it!
0:25:55 > 0:26:00She's not just quick, she's composed and in complete control.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02She's coming up for that first landing that we saw
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Tim take quite hard.
0:26:06 > 0:26:08Luci's cannon leap is extremely impressive
0:26:08 > 0:26:12and would gain her points for being tricky and smoothly done!
0:26:12 > 0:26:14The G-force going through her ankles
0:26:14 > 0:26:16is barely half of what we saw on Tim's.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22She moves effortlessly over every obstacle, and then, from nowhere...
0:26:25 > 0:26:26She's thrown in a flip!
0:26:28 > 0:26:30That's a classic free running move!
0:26:30 > 0:26:34It's creative, difficult, elegant and beautifully performed.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39And there's more!
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Another amazing flip, followed by an incredible leap.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47She is looking so comfortable, and on the home straight.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51The plant pot is ahead, Tim chose to run straight past it.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54But Luci goes over the top of it to keep her speed up.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55Very stylish!
0:26:59 > 0:27:03And a truly heroic leap over the gap in the wall.
0:27:03 > 0:27:06It's coming up to that final jump that Tim really struggled with.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08She's almost finished the course now,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10can she throw in one last flourish?
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Oh, yes! She spins in mid-air and lands magnificently.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21Wow! That was incredible, absolutely incredible!
0:27:21 > 0:27:24- How do you feel?- Tired.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28I came looking for a real-life superhero, a Catwoman
0:27:28 > 0:27:31who could jump from heights and not get hurt.
0:27:31 > 0:27:37I found her. Luci Romberg, you are superhuman!
0:27:37 > 0:27:40It's been amazing to meet you, incredible to learn all about
0:27:40 > 0:27:42- free running.- Thank you. I had such a fun time, this was awesome.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd