The parkour athlete competed in the fourth round of Auditions with one leg.
Ever thought you’d be moved to tears by a guy in his 20s doing parkour? Well, that’s the magic of America’s Got Talent!
On Night 4 of Auditions for Season 21, Rubén Roldán Bustos took the stage and delivered on of the most unique Acts in AGT history. The 23-year-old from Spain was accompanied by a friend who also helped him translate his dream for the English-speaking audience, explaining that Bustos’ goal was to “prove that the limits are in in our minds and he’s gonna break those limits on the stage.”
“He lives in a small village, so he never thought that he’s gonna be here doing something that he loves, but he’s the hardest working person that I know. He’s so humble but this competition means everything to him. He wants to win,” Bustos’s companion said, adding, “His dream is to be here trying to inspire people and traveling around the world doing parkour.”
Once out in front of the historic Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Bustos tore off a pant leg, revealing that one of his legs is prosthetic. As if that weren’t impressive enough, he then removed the prosthetic.
Rubén Roldán Bustos did his entire parkour routine on one leg
Outside the theater, he leapt from handrail to handrail seemingly with ease, never losing his balance, then took a bike to a lift, returned to the stage, demonstrated gymnastic skills on bars, climbed a vertical structure, and even did a hand stand.
The entire audience, and all four Judges, gave him a standing ovation, though they stood on their feet, not their hands.
“Wow, wow, wow, Ruben, espectacular, benissimo,” said Judge Sofía Vergara before asking about his limb difference. “I have an accident when I was a child. I live in the countryside, so I have an accident with a tractor,” he explained.
“That was bloody fantastic. I have so much respect for your talent and your courage, and Im gonna do… that!” interjected Judge Simon Cowell, leaning across Vergara to press the Golden Buzzer. Bustos immediately jumped into his friend’s arms. Backstage, he was overcome by the moment, telling Host Terry Crews, “I don’t know where we are now!”
With his Golden Buzzer, Bustos is guaranteed a spot in the Live Shows, so we’ll see more amazing moves from this incredible young man later this summer!
What is parkour, the skill Rubén Roldán Bustos performed?
Simply put, it’s an athletic, acrobatic, and creative way of moving from point A to point B by using your surroundings and any obstructions in your path to propel you. Think of it as an obstacle course meets gymnastics in an urban environment. You may have seen viral videos of parkour enthusiasts attempting difficult, extreme challenges, especially when the trend peaked a few years ago. Need a refresher? They did it on The Office.
Watch all-new episodes of America’s Got Talent Season 21 Tuesday nights on NBC, and catch up the next day on Peacock.