In Its Inaugural Appearance At Paris Olympics, Breaking Impressed The Audience

After a full day of dance competitions, Ami,a two-time breaking world champion was declared the victor of Olympic breaking competition. In the championship match, she competed against Lithuania’s Nicka.

Ami and Nicka hugged after breaking, and despite the Japanese dancer winning gold, the competitors felt like they had won together, as evidenced by the Lithuanian silver medallist celebrating on the newly established platform for the sport alongside the winner.

La Concorde, a historic outdoor arena in Paris, was filled with excitement as crowds gathered for the first Olympic showing. Break beats and an MC whipped up the crowd, while inside the venue, a three-sided amphitheater and a small stage provided a unique scene for the Games. B-Girls competed on the first of two days, marking the first and perhaps only Olympic showing in the city’s history.

Team USA’s female competitors failed to advance to the knockout stages of the competition, a shock given the sport’s origin in the Bronx neighborhood of New York City, despite the intense competition featuring some upsets throughout.

“I want this day to last forever.”

The all-ages crowd was filled with joy during the round-robin, cheering on technical moves. 

The semifinal was intense, with Ami winning against India from the Netherlands and Nicka defeating China’s 671,

The semifinal between 671 and Nicka was a thrilling match with impressive power moves and “down-rock” action. 

India, who had to battle in a pre-qualifier round to earn the 16th seed, seemed to have a chance to win, but the judges awarded Ami two rounds to one.

France’s Carlota and Syssy failed to advance to the quarterfinals, with Carlota out of the round-robin and Syssy losing against Ami, disappointing the home crowd.

Usually, the Place de la Concorde is a congested traffic crossroads. However, for these Games, it has been transformed into a huge urban park featuring not just breaking, but also skateboarding, BMX, and 3×3 basketball.

Inter-city games often feature historical landmarks like La Madeleine church and the Luxor Obelisk, creating a stunning backdrop for the sports. 

Host Malik from France expressed his desire for the day to last forever, showcasing the positive vibes of the event.

Breaking is not included in the L.A. 2028 Games 

Paris breaking’s Olympic debut has caused concern among athletes, who fear the official show may lose its hip-hop roots. The lack of inclusion in the L.A. 2028 Games has also raised concerns about the sport’s financial sustainability and the support of professional breakers’ careers.

Sunny, one of those breakers, left her corporate job during the day to compete in these Games. Her future in the sport is uncertain because she did not receive a medal today.

The other Team USA representative on Friday, Logistx, was likewise unable to secure a podium position.

Sunny and Logistx, despite a medal-less performance for the U.S., appeared delighted to be included in a history-making moment. Fans were disappointed by the sport’s lack of billing at the Los Angeles Games, but it seemed like breaking’s debut was successful.

The men’s Olympic breaking try will conclude the sport’s Paris exhibition on Saturday, including competitors like USA’s Victor and Jeffro.

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