As a gamer with a deep-rooted love for hip-hop culture and a keen eye for dance battles, witnessing breakdancing make its grand entrance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was nothing short of exhilarating! I’ve been following the evolution of this art form from underground battles to mainstream recognition, and it feels like coming full circle.
2024 Paris Olympics saw the introduction of breakdancing (or breaking), and it’s been creating a buzz on various social media platforms.
The event got underway on Friday, with none other than Snoop Dogg, an Olympic legend, delivering a welcome speech. To start things off, B-girl dancers from various parts of the globe displayed their skills on the global dance stage. The men’s competition will follow suit on August 10th.
Since dog agility is being introduced at the Olympics for the first time, it’s no surprise that Snoop Dogg was there to join in the fun. #ParisOlympics | TV: E! and Peacock
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Despite the high expectations and link to hip-hop culture, it seems some viewers were unsure about what the event would bring. Yet, the responses have been anything but underwhelming, sparking numerous viral memes, amusing commentary, and notable dancers such as Rachael Gunn, better known as Raygun from Team Australia.
“Ice-T, an actor-rapper, shared his excitement on social media ahead of the first day of Olympic Breakdancing competition. ‘Olympic Breakdancing starts Today! 10am Eastern Time… This is going to astonish those who haven’t seen breaking in a while… AMAZING. All respect to HIPHOP,’ he wrote.”)
As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to see Team USA represented by Victor Montalvo, Sunny Choi, Logan Edra, and Jeffrey Louis. However, it was Gunn who truly captivated the online audience, particularly with her standout performances against Edra, Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič, and France’s Sya Dembélé.
Social media circulated clips of her unique dance steps, capturing attention even from sports analyst Pat McAfee. He commented, “Breakdancing could potentially become an Olympic sport, sparking interest in how this might pave the way for other artistic disciplines.” Impressed by a video of Gunn, he said, “This just might be my new favorite sport! I didn’t know there was a ‘fish flop’ move in it; it looks like a fish jumping on a boat. Kudos to you, future Olympian!”
Actor-comedian Roy Wood Jr., in a post on what used to be Twitter, highlighted that certain videos of Gunn had been taken down from the site. However, the rationale behind this was not initially apparent. In his message, he humorously remarked, “It seems like that breakdancer reported Twitter to you all.”
Prior to the competition day, Gunn – who holds a position as a university lecturer – shared with CNBC that she had worked harder than ever before in her pursuit of qualifying for the Paris Games.
As a dedicated breakdancer, you never know what unexpected twists and turns the day might bring. It’s crucial to always stay ready. Knowing the Olympic qualifiers were no ordinary competition, I meticulously prepared ten unique sets, ensuring each one encompassed all the essential elements and moves for every round. My desire to succeed was immense, so I gave it my all throughout the competition, pouring everything I had into each performance.
In the end, Ami Yuasa from Japan won the gold in the B-girls competition, with Banevič claiming the silver, and Liu Qingyi of China taking home the bronze.
Raygun’s kangaroo dance performance was so powerful, it seemed as though the competition had already been decided! She deserves the breakdancing gold medal 🥇. Despite some debates about whether breakdancing belongs in the Olympics, it’s undeniably impressive and enjoyable #BreakingForGold #Olympics snoopdogg
— Bites Of Net (@BitesOfNet) August 9, 2024
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2024-08-10 08:55