B-boy Menno, B-girl Nicka Claim Gold at European Breaking Championship

B-boy Menno and b-girl Nicka were crowned champions of Europe today at the 2023 WDSF European Breaking Championship in Spain.

The judges’ scorecards put b-boy Menno from Netherlands ahead of b-boy Lee from the Netherlands as well in the final, with b-boy Xak from Spain taking bronze. On the women’s side of the competition, b-girl Nicka from Lithuania beat b-girl Stefani from Ukraine in the gold-medal battle, with b-girl Syssy from France finishing third.

Taking place in the picturesque coastal city of Almeria from 6-7 May, the event featured 235 athletes (160 b-boys and 75 b-girls) from 34 countries across Europe in high-octane 1v1 battles.

The competition played a crucial role in the qualification process for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, providing coveted points for the WDSF Breaking for Gold Ranking List and an additional opportunity for the athletes to qualify for the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS), where 40 b-girls and 40 b-boys will compete for Paris 2024 qualification berths in three events organised in three different host cities around the world next year.

The Local Organizing Committee, SevenMila, and the Spanish National Member Body worked tirelessly to ensure that everything was in place for a spectacular competition. Nenad Jeftic, the WDSF Vice-President for Sports, expressed his gratitude to the Junta de Andalucia and the City Hall of Almeria for their unwavering support in bringing this event to life.

WDSF President Shawn Tay, meanwhile, noted the high calibre of competition, which underscores the rapid development of Breaking across Europe.

“The WDSF European Breaking Championship 2023 was a testament to the growth of Breaking in Europe. The championship provided a platform for the best b-boys and b-girls from across the continent to showcase their incredible talent while battling against each other. We were hugely impressed by the performances and wish all the competitors the best of luck on the road to Paris 2024.”

With ranking points and qualifying spots on the line, spectators watching in person and around the world via the Olympic Channel were treated to extraordinary performances from the first down rock. The Breaking battles were the highlight of the first ever Andalucia Urban event, which also included BMX and Scooter competitions.

Day 1 saw the field of 235 Breakers whittled down to the Top 16 per gender, while Day 2 began with a round robin stage that narrowed the pool down to eight athletes per gender, who then went on to battle it out in knockout rounds beginning with the quarterfinals.

Entrance to the event was free, with live coverage also offered free of charge on Olympics.com.

The WDSF European Breaking Championship was the latest in a series of Olympic qualification events being held around the world since last year. These include qualifiers in North America (Canada), South America (Brazil), Asia (Japan, South Korea), and Europe (England, Spain). Next up on the calendar is the WDSF African Continental Championship in Morocco, scheduled to take place from 12-13 May in the capital city of Rabat.

Check out the WDSF Competition Calendar for all the latest information on the Road to Paris 2024.

Published on 8 May 2023