THE Place de la Concorde in Paris will host the first-ever breaking competition in Olympic history on Aug. 9 and 10, with 32 dancers from 15 countries and regions competing for men’s and women’s gold medals. The lineup for the breaking event at the Paris Olympics consists of continental champions, top-ranked athletes from two Olympic qualifying events, and wildcard entries. Despite its origins in North American street culture, breaking — also known as breakdancing — has gained global popularity, especially in Europe and Asia, which is reflected in the lineup for the Olympic event — France, Japan and the United States will each have four participants, while China will field three competitors. Dutch dancer Lee Diouf secured his Olympic spot by finishing first in both qualifying events. America’s world champion Victor Montalvo and European champion Danis Civil of France are also top contenders. Japan’s Shigeyuki Nakarai, who won gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games, earned a direct ticket to Paris, while young talent Hiroto Ono (Hiro10) ranked third in the qualifiers and is a strong medal hopeful. South Korea’s Kim Hong-yul, 39, advanced by finishing second in the qualifiers. With a career spanning over 20 years and multiple Red Bull BC One titles, Kim’s vibrant style has made him a fan favorite. China’s sole male participant, 19-year-old Qi Xiangyu, has emerged as a rising star. He won the Outbreak event in Slovakia in July 2023, marking the best result for a Chinese male breakdancer. Qi also earned a bronze medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games and a silver at the Paris Olympic qualifying series in Shanghai. China’s Liu Qingyi known for her powerful and explosive style, won the women’s title at the Outbreak street dance competition in August 2022, becoming the first Chinese athlete to win a top international breakdancing event. Two months later, she earned the runner-up at the 2022 World Breaking Championships to clinch China’s first-ever medal in this event. In 2023, Liu clinched the gold in women’s breaking at the 19th Hangzhou Asian Games to secure her spot at the Paris Olympics. Japanese breakdancers Yuasa Ami and Fukushima Ayumi dominated women’s events with their agile and graceful styles. Both have extensive competition experience. Several young male dancers also make waves. Born in 2007, Dominika Banevic of Lithuania won the 2023 World Breaking Championships. French teenager Sya Dembele, also born in 2007, finished fourth in the qualifiers. Breaking made its debut as a competitive sport at the 2018 Buenos Aires Youth Olympic Games. In 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board approved the inclusion of breaking, along with skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing, at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, breaking will not feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as it was not selected by the organizing committee. (Xinhua) | 