PARIS: The unique blend of artistry and athleticism in the sport of breaking captured worldwide attention at the Paris Games this week, leaving fans hungry for more, even though it is likely to be a one-off Olympic sport.
The Games’ newest attraction took place on the Place de La Concorde, the site of many historic moments, none of which could compare to those experienced by the Breakers over two action-packed days.
With hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach in the front row, the breakdancing ladies kicked off the party on Friday with some gripping clashes.
In the end, the experienced Japanese B-Girl Ami (Ami Yuasa) fought her way past the 17-year-old Lithuanian B-Girl Nicka (Dominika Banevic) and danced her way to the first gold medal in breaking.
The sport, which originated in the 1970s at street festivals in New York’s Bronx district, also caused unexpected drama.
Afghan B-girl Manizha Talash, a member of the Refugee Olympic Team, was disqualified after the words “Free Afghan Women” were seen on her cape during the pre-qualifying games.
Later that day, B-Girl Raygun (Rachael Gunn), a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer, attracted attention with her unique approach to the sport, which led to countless online memes.
Gunn took the reaction – some mocking, some praising – in his stride and sat smiling in the stands during the men’s competition on Saturday, while Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares responded to criticism from “trolls and keyboard warriors”.
On Saturday, the 16 best male breakers in the world took to the Cypher – a stage that looks like a cross between a disco dance floor and a mixed martial arts octagon.
There, Canadian B-Boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) conjured up a gold medal with a fascinating performance, defeating the popular French B-Boy Dany Dann (Danis Civil).
The party wasn’t limited to the venue, as music and dancing spilled out into side shows throughout the grounds, creating an atmosphere more reminiscent of a summer music festival than a sporting competition.
Breaking was included in the Paris 2024 program to attract a younger and more diverse fan base to the Olympic Games.
Even though the 2028 Olympics will not be held in Los Angeles, athletes said they are excited about their big moment in the Olympic spotlight.
“I dedicated my life to this,” said B-Boy Phil Wizard.
“It’s an underrated sport and I hope we showed the world today how incredible breaking is.”
