By: Kevin Wang

Breaking, the professional term for breakdancing, is debuting at the 2024 Paris Olympics. USA Today reported that breaking is “part of the new wave of sports [including surfing and skateboarding] that the International Olympic Committee has ushered in…to appeal to younger fans.” Breaking was performed in the streets of New York and other cities long before it was added to the Olympics, but Paris represents the first time these dancers will get to perform for people worldwide.

The men’s and women’s breaking competitions at the Olympics will have several one-on-one battles with several rounds per battle. Each competitor will try to impress the nine judges by doing several power moves and “top rocking.” Power moves consist of spins, flips, and more, while top rocking is doing dance moves while standing. Musicality and vocabulary – the amount of moves the dancers know – reflect how dancers interact with the music, which are important aspects that competitors will be judged on. The competitors don’t know what music will be playing beforehand, so they’re also judged on how original the dances are.

According to The Washington Post, breaking is most likely a one-time event because, “Many in the sports world have mocked it, and breaking is not on the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.” Competing for the US are Victor Montalvo, Jeffrey Louis, Grace Choi, and Logan Edra. According to CNN, Victor is “a favorite in Paris to bring home a medal.”

Despite the Olympics’ attempts to judge breaking in an objective way, it’s still subjective. Olympian Jeffrey Louis told Team USA, “You’re judging art that’s transformed into sport. Sometimes I don’t even know why one guy lost. I’ll be like how?” On August 9th and 10th, dancers from around the world will show their creativity and moves to the impromptu beats of the DJ.