Breakdancing — or as it’s formally called, breaking — is officially an Olympic sport for the first time in history. The street-dance style originated in the Bronx during the ’80s, born concurrently with hip-hop music and innovated by Black and brown youth. Today, it’s as much a sport as an art form, and the athletes, known as B-girls and B-boys, compete in round-robin-style cyphers. The wildest part is that breaking is, by nature, spontaneous. Breakers can’t plan their routines or decide their moves ahead of time; they don’t even know what song they’ll be dancing to.
Maybe that helps explain whatever was happening at today’s championships with Raygun? The Australian B-girl has taken the world by storm, inspiring a flurry of memes, complaints, and compliments across the internet. Many felt that her skill level wasn’t quite matched up to her opponents. But you know what? She looked like she was having a great time.
Two Celsius no breakfast pic.twitter.com/rMm3vao8q8
— David Ruff (@dcarterruff) August 9, 2024
I could live all my life and never come up with anything as funny as Raygun, the 36-year-old Australian Olympic breakdancer pic.twitter.com/1uPYBxIlh8
— mariah (@mariahkreutter) August 9, 2024
I wonder what they were thinking at this very moment... pic.twitter.com/teNOzIYgQe
— Strictly 4 My X’ers (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) August 9, 2024
There was that shooter guy who showed up on his lunch break and won the medal with a hand stuffed in the pocket of his Dockers.
— April (@ReignOfApril) August 9, 2024
Then there was Raygun who said, “I’m on holiday anyway, lemme pop over to #Paris2024 and see if the Aussies have a #BreakingForGold team vacancy. pic.twitter.com/MAePQAyh3B
Raygun really hit the Kangaroo hop LMAO #BREAKING #Olympics #olympicbreaking pic.twitter.com/Ho0xzdT3bT
— michael✨ (@inluvin3days) August 9, 2024
Raygun — also known as Dr. Rachael Gunn — is 36 years old and has been breaking since her mid-20s, according to Reuters. She’s also an academic who lectures at Australia’s Macquarie University and earned a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies with a thesis entitled “Deterritorializing gender in Sydney’s breakdancing scene: a B-girl’s experience of B-boying.” She’s not new to this, she’s true to this!
Sure, she didn’t stand a chance against her opponents, but I’m guessing she didn’t expect to. Speaking of her opponents, she wasn’t the only highlight of the day. Despite impressive performances, U.S. B-girl Logistx didn’t make it past the quarterfinals. She did, however, slay:
WHAT'S TWO PLUS SIX? ????
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) August 9, 2024
Logistx gives the answer in her second round dance in breaking at the #ParisOlympics! pic.twitter.com/fY2McZc5gz
Team USA breaker Logistx put on a show in her opening routine. ????#ParisOlympics | E! and Peacock pic.twitter.com/nHndH0C7Dc
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024
Sunny Choi, the other B-girl representing the U.S., also brought incredible energy to her battles (my personal highlight was in her battle with India, when she mimed shot-putting her opponent into the crowd). While it’s disappointing that neither of our U.S. B-girls advanced, they still inspired the viewers at home:
I’d like to thank the @Olympics for introducing breaking and descending my house into chaos #Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/AcpP5vIx3q
— Kim Grundy (@KimSlac92604278) August 9, 2024
Also notable was the pre-qualifier battle between Manizha Talash, an Afghan B-girl competing for the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, and India Sardjoe from the Netherlands. During her performance, Talash removed her top layer to reveal a cape that read “FREE AFGHAN WOMEN.”
Free Afghan Women ✊ #Paris2024 #breaking pic.twitter.com/hjbQHFhpCk
— Thibaut Buccellato (@Thibuch) August 9, 2024
Personally, I was especially impressed by India, who was a truly formidable opponent, and by France’s Syssy, who is 16 years old and was flipping and bouncing and spinning like she was weightless; at one point she managed to spin on her elbow. Here’s a clip of her battle with Nicka, who’s 17.
Nicka vs Syssy kicking each other's butt breaking style! ???? #BreakingForGold pic.twitter.com/rBYgEOPmVw
— Vvvv (@Vdoresss) August 9, 2024
I also loved watching China’s Ying Zi, who brought unique musicality and insane strength.
Obsessed with this absolute QUEEN Breaker Ying Zi of China! The CHARISMA!!!! #BreakingForGold pic.twitter.com/fu9MEOwSte
— Zehra Fazal (@ZehraFazal) August 9, 2024
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