As you all know by now, Breaking—formerly known as Breakdancing—was featured in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for the very first time. I’d like to share my experience with you; I hope you enjoy it!
For about three years, I had planned to attend, but it wasn't until one year ago that it became a reality. My friend Ellen organized everything. I flew to Paris on August 5th, and immediately upon landing, I was immersed in the Paris 2024 atmosphere. As I boarded the train to my accommodation for the week, I started seeing images of Breakers, which only heightened my excitement.
I arrived at my destination, dropped off my gear, and then went out with my friend Donna to do some sightseeing in Paris. Our first stop was the Eiffel Tower to see the Olympic Rings. When we got there, it was amazing. People from all over the world were gathered, and it was refreshing to see so many happy faces also there for the Olympics. We stayed out late and watched the Eiffel Tower light show. Despite being tired from the long flight, we didn’t mind.
The next day, I embarked on a solo mission to visit the venue where the Breaking battles would take place. I wanted to soak in the energy of the place, and it was a special moment for me. It was my first time in Paris, my birthday was just two days away, and Breaking was going to be in the Olympics. What an incredible time to be alive!
We spent the next few days sightseeing, walking extensively, and trying out various restaurants. The walking was beneficial, as I’m used to working out almost every day, and it helped me keep up with my routine. The slower pace was also nice.
The day arrived. I woke up with a feeling I had never experienced before—a mix of relief and excitement as I was minutes away from witnessing this historic moment for the Breaking culture and community. I’ve been part of this community for 29 years, and I couldn’t help but reflect on how, when I was in high school, Breaking was banned from my school, and now it was in the Olympics. It was truly amazing.
While Breaking at the Olympics is considered a sport, it’s the culture of Breaking that drives us. If we only enjoyed the movement aspects, we probably wouldn’t be here. The culture is the glue that keeps this community moving forward, and it’s the reason we were in Paris. We never gave up, and eventually, people took notice.
Upon arriving at the venue, the first thing I noticed was the line. I knew we were about to witness something special. Ellen and I entered La Concorde. The stage was set, and the moment had arrived. As we walked towards the venue, we saw about a thousand people around a fenced area. We approached and realized it was the warm-up area for the Breaking Olympic athletes. This was the first time I had ever seen Breakers in action with people watching them warm up. They were taking photos and videos, and it was already live.
I spoke with a few people from our community, and we shared our excitement. We were here; we made it!
After about 45 minutes, we could hear the MCs inside the stadium starting to speak and the audience making noise. I walked over to the entrance, showed my ticket, and was told to follow a staff member. She guided me through a maze of people and took me to the back of the stadium. After talking to another staff member, they directed me to go up some stairs and then down to a seat on the floor. Guess where I ended up? Front row, right at the Olympics. I felt a deep sense of my dad, who passed away 10 months ago, being present. He had been looking forward to me going to the Olympics, and here I was.
The battles started quickly, and we were live. Within minutes, I began receiving texts and emails from people watching who saw me. It was quite funny. I knew many people would be watching, but I didn’t realize how many. Friends I hadn’t seen in over 20 years found me on social media just to let me know they saw me.
The first b-girl to step onto the floor in Paris for Competitive Breaking was Bgirl India, and this was the moment I had been waiting for—to witness the first Breaker at the Olympics. History was made in that very moment, and we could say that we were part of the Olympics. As I watched the battles, I was struck by how effortlessly the Breakers moved.
Watching the b-girl battles and seeing them perform with such grace and fluidity reminded me of the elite athletes in other sports. There are boxers who are exceptionally skilled but struggle under the pressure of cameras, lights, and an audience. They become sparring partners for other top performers. I saw this with the b-girls. The reason they were there is that they could handle the pressure and thrive under it.
I’ve shared this observation with some people. Being there, witnessing the cameras, the crowd, and the significance of the battles made it intense, yet for the competitors, it was just another important day. There are levels to competitive Breaking just as there are in all sports. It’s not just about skills; it’s about performing under pressure. This is where greatness resides, and not everyone can do it. Performing under pressure requires proper coaching. This is why, at ALL10 Breaking, we focus on building confidence and bringing out the best in our students.
Coaches play a crucial role in confidence building. Most students will, at some point, dance in front of people or even battle. The battle part of Breaking is part of our DNA. See this interview with the legendary B-boy Frosty Freeze, where he talks about performing.
After the b-girl battles, we stayed out for a while, met up with some other b-boys and b-girls, and had a quick meet-up. Then I went home and went straight to sleep. The next morning, I checked my Instagram, and the first video that popped up was from a b-girl named RayGun. The video shared by Rolling Stone’s Instagram was quite shocking. In my years as a b-boy and organizer, I had never seen someone made fun of for their style.
I mentioned this to others, and little did we know it would become the most talked-about video from the 2024 Olympic Games. When I arrived at the venue for the b-boy battles, others were already discussing it.
The men’s battles began, and once again, my first observation was the finesse of the movements. The breakers made the most difficult moves look effortless, similar to the b-girls. This level of Breaking is a dream for many of us. It requires extreme discipline, just like any other sport. To be the best, you must train like the best, and those who excel in this environment end up on the world stage, like in Paris 2024.
All the battles in Paris felt like final battles in traditional events. The breakers who participated in this historic moment gave their absolute best and elevated Breaking worldwide. I left this day with a reignited passion for this art form. Knowing that when I returned home, we would no longer say "We are going to be in the Olympics," but "We were in the Olympics." Where we go from here is up to the community.
If you’re interested in Breaking, please reach out to ALL10 Breaking. We offer structured programs taught by certified Breaking coaches for all ages.
Until next time!
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