Break-dancing busts into the Olympics for the first time. Here’s what to expect in Paris. – NBC Chicago

Get ready for plenty of did-that moments when the Paris Games introduce break-dancing as an official Olympic sport.

Bodies will be contorted, gravity will appear to be defied and athletes will perform “spins”, “windmills” and “freezes” movements – and all of this will be set to music.

The sport, also known as “breaking,” made its successful debut at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where it surpassed one million viewers, according to NBC Olympics, far surpassing the audience for many other sports. The Olympics declared it an “exceptional success”, and now organizers and athletes are hoping to translate that magic onto sport’s biggest stage.

“This is a chance for us to grow and educate people about braking,” Jeffrey Louis (B-Boy Jeffro), told NBC Olympics. Louis, the world’s fifth-ranked B-boy, is considered one of the favorites for one of the remaining spots on the U.S. Olympic team.

Breaking joins other newer sports, including three that were added to the Olympic program for the first time at the 2020 Tokyo Games: surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing.

The addition of these sports to the official Olympic roster is an attempt by the International Olympic Committee to reach a younger audience, given that “all four are easy to play and participants form very active communities on the social networks”, according to the Paris Olympic Games. .

The committee, known as the IOC, hopes that millions of children around the world will be inspired to take up the sport themselves.

“If we can do this, we can create something unstoppable,” Louis said. “We can’t let it go again, because the first time the breakup blew up, it fell apart.”

What’s breaking?

The dance-combat sport is “characterized by acrobatic movements, stylized footwork and the key role played by the DJ and MC (master of ceremonies) during fights,” according to the Paris Olympics.

Some moves will have the audience wondering where the half-pipe is as the athletes twist and turn as if they should have boards under their feet.

Techniques in the sport include top rock (standing footwork) and down rock (movements on the ground), power moves (twists and pirouettes) and freeze, when breakers freeze in poses while using their heads or their hands to support themselves.

How will it work?

The break competition in Paris will be divided into two events – one for women and one for men – and they will take place on August 9 and 10 at the La Concorde urban park.

In total, 16 B-boys or 16 B-girls “will compete in spectacular solo fights”, according to the Paris Olympics.

Contestants will show off their best moves as they try to keep up with the beat of the DJ’s tracks, improvising to stay alive in the dance battle with a combination of “power moves” including windmills, the 6-step and freezes , according to the Paris Olympics.

The judges will then vote, paving the way for the first medalists in Olympic history.

Who is on the US Olympic break team?

The United States will be represented by four breakers – two B-boys and two B-girls – who will compete in solo battles for the gold medal.

So far, two American breakers have qualified: Sunny Choi (B-Girl Sunny) and Victor Montalvo (B-Boy Victor).

From the Bronx to Paris

It took decades to break through to the main stage.

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