By Rory Carroll
PARIS (Reuters) – Breaking’s unique blend of artistry and athleticism grabbed the attention of the world at the Paris Games this week and left fans wanting more despite likely being a one-and-done Olympic sport.
The Games’ newest attraction was held at Place de La Concorde, the site of many historic moments none quite like the ones breakers took part in over two action-packed days.
With hip-hop legend Snoop Dogg and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach seated in the front row, women breakers got the party started in style with riveting clashes on Friday.
In the end veteran Japanese B-Girl Ami (Ami Yuasa) battled past Lithuanian 17-year-old B-Girl Nicka (Dominika Banevic) to dance her way to the first-ever gold medal in breaking.
The sport, which was born at block parties in the Bronx neighborhood in New York in the 1970s, delivered some unexpected drama too.
Afghan B-Girl Manizha Talash, a member of the refugee Olympic team, was disqualified after displaying the words “Free Afghan Women” on her cape during pre-qualifiers.
Later in the day, B-Girl Raygun (Rachael Gunn), a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer, stood out for her unique approach to the sport, leading to countless online memes.
Gunn took the response – some mocking, some praising – in her stride and was smiling in the stands at Saturday’s men’s competition while Australia’s Chef de Mission Anna Meares hit back at criticism by “trolls and keyboard warriors.”
On Saturday the 16 best male breakers in the world took to the cypher – a stage that looks like a cross between a disco dance floor and a mixed martial arts octagon.
There Canada’s B-Boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) conjured up a gold medal with a spellbinding performance to defeat popular Frenchman B-Boy Dany Dann (Danis Civil).
The party was not confined to the venue as music and dancing spilled out in sideshows around the grounds, creating a vibe more akin to a summer music festival than a sporting competition.
Breaking was added to the programme for Paris 2024 in an effort to attract a younger and more diverse fanbase to the Olympics.
While it will not feature in Los Angeles in 2028, its athletes said they were thrilled to have their moment in the Olympic spotlight.
“I’ve dedicated my life to this,” said B-Boy Phil Wizard.
“It’s an underappreciated sport and I hope today we showed the world how incredible breaking is.”
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Paris; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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