Moroccan B-boy Defazy takes part in the France-Morocco friendly match involving 12 B-girls and B-boys, held in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, on April 17, 2024, 100 days before the 2024 Paris Olympics. . (Photo credit: FADEL SENNA/AFP) (Photo credit: FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
(NewsNation) — It's been a long journey, from laying out cardboard on the sidewalk to perform for passersby, to intense training, tons of sponsorship money, and now a shot at gold. Now let's talk about breakdancing.
Breaking, as it is known, has officially become an Olympic sport, starting this summer in Paris.
“You need the athleticism of a professional athlete, but you also need to be an artist and dance,” longtime breaker David “Kid David” Schreibman told Rolling Stone. Told.
The official Olympic website states, “Breaking is an urban dance style that originated in the United States in the 1970s. With its roots in hip-hop culture, breaking first took shape at the lively block parties of New York's Bronx. , featuring acrobatic moves, stylized footwork, and a DJ and MC (emcee) playing key roles during the battle.
Breaking auditioned at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. NBC Olympics announced that the event drew more than 1 million viewers.
There are two competitions, one for men and one for women.
6 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls will face off in an epic solo battle. Athletes coordinate their styles with power moves such as windmills, six-steps and freezes, improvising to the beat of a DJ's track to secure judges' votes and win the first Olympic breaking news. medal,” the official Olympic website says.
The U.S. team consists of two men and two women. Two people who have qualified so far are “B-Girl Sunny” Sunny Choi and “B-Boy Victor” Victor Montalvo.
Breaks have come and gone over the years, but the grassroots competition took what one dancer called a “seismic leap forward” when Red Bull hosted its first official competition in 2001.
As described by Rolling Stone, “Lords of the Floor” treats its breakers like professional athletes, paying for travel for crews from around the world and providing masseuses for dancers between rounds. and handed out a prize of $4,000, a record amount at the time. other events. ”
One dancer said it was the first time Breaker was treated like a rock star.
From now on, they will be treated like Olympic athletes. And an Olympic champion.
