Breakdancing Made It’s Olympics Debut & Social Media Is Torn

On Friday, breakdancing made its highly anticipated debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics and viewers have mixed feelings.

Team USA’s B-Girls, Sunny Choi and Logan Edra, who perform under Logistx, competed against several breakers, failing to take home any medals. Instead,  Team Japan’s B-Girl Ami, whose real name is Ami Yuasa, won the competition’s first-ever Olympic gold medal.  B-Girl Dominika Banevič, aka Nicka of Lithuania, earned the silver, while China’s Liu Qingyi, who competed under the moniker 671, won the bronze. 

Sunny Choi's Olympic breaking career starting in style. 🔥#ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/Ogzmde5Nc0

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 9, 2024

Though a historic moment, many people called out what they perceived as gentrification of the sport, considering that the unique dance style was birthed in New York from hip-hop culture. Others were highly amused at the quirky moves on the center stage, having a difficult time distinguishing what exactly was being scored.  However, rapped Ice-T defended the competition online, calling breakdancing “more athletic than many of the Olympic events.”

More Athletic than many of the Olympic events. Head to head competition. Ask me that question after you watch. 💥 https://t.co/u8QPDpqykA

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) August 9, 2024

The B-Boys breaking competition is set to take place on Saturday, and fans are to have many opinions. 

Of all the places that Snoop Dogg should be at the Olympics, this feels right. Snoop opens the breaking competition pic.twitter.com/7qBIomPqMZ

— Thuc Nhi Nguyen (@thucnhi21) August 9, 2024

I paid $2,090 per ticket for my family of 5 to attend the break dancing event at the Olympics.

We certainly got our money’s worth. pic.twitter.com/FeLtK7djWM

— Chris Bakke (@ChrisJBakke) August 9, 2024

Shout out Black/Latinx b-boys & b-girls in NYC who are likely in their mid-late 60s today who were harassed by cops, admonished by media, and dismissed by ‘artists’ for creating what is now a global art form #OlympicGames #breakdancing #hiphop #NYC https://t.co/c7NuJYQSlf

— CJ Smiley, Ph.D. (@UptownKastro) August 9, 2024

Turned on the break dancing olympics and of course this white girl from Lithuania got a Durag on…. pic.twitter.com/veD5ybKXjg

— Carmen Jones (@shesaysgo_) August 9, 2024

Breakdancing this morning at #OlympicGames Hip Hop is so much more than the music and now hopefully more people, especially here in the US, can appreciate the other elements.

You never thought that Hip Hop would take it this far…

🎥 MSNBC pic.twitter.com/LreXKdNjIF

— Ruben || Check the Rhyme (@checktherhyme1_) August 9, 2024

Wait! What in all the hells and realms of the multiverse is Olympic competitive break dancing and why am I looking at a white woman from Lithuania breaking in a dew rag? pic.twitter.com/6yqoYwXriR

— Bedford Palmer II, Ph.D. (@DrBFPalmer) August 9, 2024

What in the Magikarp is this shit. #breakdancing #breakdance #Olympics

pic.twitter.com/KhVnI04RaO

— It Was All a Dream, I Used to Read Wizard Magazine (@UpToTASK) August 9, 2024

Yal knew break dancing was an olympic sport?!? Where New York at?!?😂😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/YNYYfYeEVr

— Smitty (@JSMITTY_1911) August 9, 2024

I'm ready to sign the petition to officially remove Break Dancing from the Olympics. Just send me the link.

— Andrew Hawkins (@Hawk) August 9, 2024

1. Breakdancing at the Olympics is already amazing simply for the visual of seeing somebody from Lithuania in a durag
2. The announcers gotta be reaaaaallllll careful pronouncing that name 😂 pic.twitter.com/Ro6XW9vbLL

— Maxx aka Humphrey Frogart aka Maxxel Rose (@MaxxFuller) August 9, 2024