Japan’s B-Girl Ami claimed the first-ever gold medal in Olympic breaking, a discipline making its debut at the Games. The competition, held on Friday, featured high-energy performances of spinning, flipping, and toprocking, showcasing the vibrant culture of breaking on a global stage. This event may not be featured in future Olympic Games, adding a historic significance to Ami’s victory.
Ami, whose full name is Ami Yuasa, emerged victorious after winning all three rounds in a final battle against Lithuania’s B-Girl Nicka (Dominika Banevič). The competition brought together 16 of the world’s top B-Girls, each demonstrating their mastery of hip-hop culture through intricate dance moves, rhythm, and skill at Place de la Concorde stadium.
“Breaking is my expression,” Yuasa shared after her win. “It’s an expression, an art, but I want to say that breaking should also be part of sports.”
Throughout the event, B-Girls captivated the audience with dynamic power moves, including headspins, windmills, and backflips. The competition, which began in the afternoon and extended into the evening, maintained a high level of energy and excitement until its conclusion just before 10 p.m.
The quarterfinals saw eight B-Girls from the original 17 competitors advancing, where they faced off in knockout battles over three rounds to secure their place in the finals. B-Girl Nicka (Banevič) earned the silver medal, while China’s B-Girl 671 (Liu Qingyi) took home the bronze after a close battle with B-Girl India (India Sardjoe) from the Netherlands to the beats of “Boom!” by The Roots. Liu, relatively new to the breaking scene, impressed with her strong performance.
“Breaking needed the Olympics because it’s like a breath of fresh air,” Banevič remarked. “Such a big amount of people saw breaking for the first time, like it’s huge. And I’m happy that I was able to represent at the highest level of the art form for breaking.”
American Disappointment in Olympic Breaking
In a surprising turn of events, American B-Girls faced early exits from the competition. B-Girl Logistx, a leading figure in the U.S. breaking scene, was eliminated in the first round, a disappointment for a country deeply connected to the birthplace of hip-hop and breaking culture. B-Girl Sunny Choi, ranked in the top 12 globally, also ended her Olympic journey in the quarterfinals, falling short of a medal.
Associated Press report
