Breaking Olympics is now an official Olympic event. This sport, often called breakdancing, will feature women’s and men’s events. These will happen on August 9 and 10 in Paris. The events will take place in La Concorde, the urban park where BMX freestyle and skateboarding were held.
Breakers have competed globally for years. The 2024 Olympics will include top breakers. Victor “B-Boy Victor” Montalvo from the USA and Dominika “B-Girl Nicka” Banevič from Lithuania will compete. If you don’t know breaking moves, don’t worry. Watch it as pure hip-hop.
What is Breaking Olympics?
Breaking Olympics started in the Bronx in the 1970s. It gave people a way to settle gang fights by dancing. The name comes from the “break” in a song. DJ Kool Herc noticed people loved dancing to these parts. He extended them and created the terms “B-boy” and “B-girl.”
Breaking Olympics has four main elements:
- Toprock: Moves done standing up.
- Downrock: Moves done on the floor.
- Freezes: Holding a pose.
- Power moves: Acrobatic motions like spins.
Why Not Call it Breakdancing?
The term “breakdancing” was made popular by media. Breakers find it simplifying and commercializing their art. Victor Montalvo calls the term “corny.” People who don’t know the dance might get nicknamed “toys.”
How Will Breaking Be Judged at the Olympics?
Breakers will battle each other after a round-robin qualifier. They have 60 seconds to improvise a routine. Nine judges will score in five categories:
- Originality: How creative the moves are.
- Technicality: Skill level of the moves.
- Vocabulary: Variety and amount of moves.
- Execution: Clean performance of moves.
- Musicality: Moves matching the music.
Each category is 20% of the score. Winning is about style and skill, not just strength.
NBC will cover the event with commentary. They will explain the difficulty of moves and form.
Who is Competing for Team USA?
The USA has two B-girls and two B-boys in the Olympics. For the women’s event, Sunny “B-Girl Sunny” Choi, 35, and Logan “Logistx” Edra, 21, will compete. For the men’s event, Victor “B-Boy Victor” Montalvo, 30, and Jeffrey “B-Boy Jeffro” Louis, 29, will compete. Sixteen men and sixteen women from many countries will compete.
Significance of Breaking At the Olympics
Breaking was showcased in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Argentina. It is not yet scheduled for the 2028 L.A. Olympics. But it might return in 2032. Some breakers worry the Olympics will change the culture of breaking. But others see it as a chance for more recognition. Luis Toledo, a New York breaker, supports the Olympics debut. He believes it will bring more opportunities.
When To Watch Breaking At the Olympics?
The two-day competition will stream live on Peacock and NBCOlympics.com. Watch it to see the world’s best breakers in action.
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