US B-boy Secures Historic Medal in Breaking’s Olympic Premiere

The American b-boys aimed to restore the U.S. reputation after both American b-girls were ousted in the first round of the Olympic competition.

PARIS, France — Canadian b-boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) clinched gold in the inaugural Olympic men’s breaking tournament on Saturday.

Local favorite French b-boy Dany Dann (Danis Civil) earned silver, while American b-boy Victor (Victor Montalvo) secured the bronze after defeating Japanese b-boy Shigekix (Shigeyuki Nakarai).

Each time Dany Dann performed, the home crowd erupted in cheers, loudly chanting his name with every impressive move. Phil Wizard captivated the audience with his energetic moves, quick footwork, and unique flair.

The stadium stood on its feet in applause as the b-boys embraced before the scores were revealed. The competition was intense, but between rounds and after battles, dancers exchanged hugs and high-fives, reflecting the hip-hop culture’s ethos of unity and camaraderie.

“We’re all representing hip-hop here, we’re all a big family right now,” Montalvo stated.

B-boy Victor, a two-time world champion from the U.S., advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Japan’s b-boy Hiro10 (Hiroto Ono), which prompted boos from the Japanese contingent in the crowd.

Ono received cheers with his powerful windmills and headspins — moves that typically energize spectators. Judges employed the Trivium system, grading based on technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality, each contributing 20% to the final score.

“In breaking, you have to be musical, you have to bring the essence, it’s not just about the moves,” Montalvo emphasized.

Montalvo and fellow U.S. b-boy Jeffro (Jeffrey Louis), eliminated in the quarterfinals, strived to redeem the U.S. after American b-girls Logistx (Logan Edra) and Sunny (Sunny Choi) didn’t progress past the first round despite their high international rankings.

Breaking, at its heart, connects mind, body, and soul, emphasizing personality, style, and individuality. The b-boys must improvise to the unsuspected music choices spun by DJs. The Olympic Committee licensed 400 songs, featuring vintage funk and hip-hop tracks from the 1990s and early 2000s.

“That’s my favorite part of this dance, is that surprise factor — you don’t know what’s going to be played,” Louis mentioned. “On the way to the stage, I’m anxious to anticipate the beat. It’s a feeling before the dance, and it’s a dance before the moves.”

Friday marked the historic introduction of Olympic breaking with 17 b-girls taking the stage. They competed fiercely, though some moments, such as Australia’s b-girl Raygun’s “kangaroo” move and Lithuania’s silver medalist sporting a durag, sparked debates about maintaining the essence of hip-hop.

Zack Slusser, vice president of Breaking for Gold USA and USA Dance, noted Friday night’s shortcomings. He remarked, “The organizers’ failure to explain the rules and breaking basics led to immediate media critique.”

He added, “But I hope today’s turnout helped redeem the sport.”

Associated Press Race & Ethnicity Editor Aaron Morrison in New York contributed to this report.