11-year-old Girl Practices the Art of Parkour

by Mikayla Nagl, Sports Reporter, Fan Day Nation

 11-year-old parkour artist Nadia Barghelame in action, executing a powerful parkour leap at her training gym, showing incredible strength and agility.

Nadia Barghelame, an 11-year-old girl from Denver, Colorado, recently started a sport that, while not mainstream, has quickly become her favorite. “It has all the things I like: climbing, running and jumping,” said Nadia.

 “She's been a parkour athlete since birth, we just didn’t know it was called parkour,” said Jill Barghelame, Nadia’s mother. 

Parkour is more than just a sport; it’s an art form that challenges the body and mind to navigate obstacles in the most fluid and efficient way possible. Originating from military obstacle course training, parkour has evolved into a global phenomenon that emphasizes agility, strength, and creative problem-solving. Practitioners, known as traceurs, engage in moves such as vaulting over barriers, scaling walls, precision jumping, and performing flips. While parkour is often associated with urban environments—using walls, railings, and benches as a playground—it can be practiced anywhere, with minimal equipment like strong-grip shoes. Parkour’s influence on culture is significant, seen in video games, action films, and commercials, inspiring people of all ages to push beyond their boundaries.

While she’s only been officially training in the sport for five months, Nadia has been an active kid all of her life. She was in gymnastics for a few years, but decided to “retire at the ripe old age of 11,” according to her mom. While she loved swinging from bar to bar, she wanted more depth in her sport, and that’s when she discovered parkour. 

While the adventurous gene seemingly skipped Nadia’s parents, they have an idea where she gets her boldness. Nadia was named after her aunt, a pilot that died in a plane crash. “They are so similar in so many ways, both risk-takers and adventure seekers,” Jill said. 

Nadia Barghelame shares her passion for the sport during an interview at the gym.

Nadia practices twice a week at APEX Denver Parkour & Athletics. She constantly checks the clock during practice days, just waiting for the doors to open. Nadia enjoys her time there not only with her friends but her coaches as well. 

Zach Wiegert, one of Nadia’s coaches at APEX, said that she “has a natural ability and has a willingness to try things that are not in her comfort zone and overcome her fears.”

“I think I like it more when she is uncomfortable because she slows down a little and realizes there are levels to this and things to learn,” said Jill. 

Being one of the only girls in the gym doesn't faze Nadia one bit. A lot of times, even at school, “she gets upset because the girls don’t want to play the same games she does, so she really enjoys her company at the gym,” Jill said. 

As of right now, Nadia is “just doing this for fun,” and doesn’t know what she wants to do with her skill yet. Luckily, she’s only in the 5th grade and has plenty of time to learn and practice the art of parkour. 

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