Singapore's seniors embrace parkour to stay healthy as nation faces rapid ageing
📅 Aug 14, 2026⏱ 1 min read💬 0 comments
Singapore is one of the world's fastest ageing countries, and its seniors are embracing the challenge of staying healthy in creative ways — including parkour.
Coach Tan Shie Boon says the urban sport, typically associated with younger daredevils, improves older participants' confidence, while they say it has the added benefit of bringing together community.
The BBC's Kelly Ng joined a training session to see their moves first-hand, watching seniors leap, balance and roll through obstacle courses designed to build strength, coordination and resilience.
Parkour requires practitioners to navigate environments using only their bodies, jumping over walls, balancing on rails and landing safely from heights — skills that coaches say translate directly to fall prevention and mobility in older age.
Singapore's rapidly ageing population has prompted the government and community groups to encourage residents to find sustainable ways to remain active throughout their lives.