B-Girl Ami Crowned First Ever Olympic Breaking Champion
In front of a sold-out crowd on the iconic Place de la Concorde in the heart of the French capital, Ami overcame 17-year-old Nicka of Lithuania in three straight rounds to claim top spot on the medals podium.
“I can’t believe I won gold,” said Ami, who qualified for the Games by winning the Olympic Qualifier Series (OQS) event in Budapest in June. “I just focused on my style, and I represented myself and showed the world what Breaking is all about. So many people know big power moves in Breaking, but for me the most important thing is the small details. When everything connects, it’s big."
Among the many celebrities, dignitaries and Olympic Movement stakeholders in attendance to witness Breaking’s Olympic debut was President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach and American rapper Snoop Dogg.
Snoop set the stage for the competition by taking us back to Paris in the XII century. In a nod to tradition, he stamped a brigadier – a large wooden stick – three times on the ground, performing the iconic “les trois coups” to signal the start of the battles.
“Les trois coups,” a centuries-old Parisian theatre tradition, was originally used to announce the beginning of a performance. This year it’s been embraced by Paris 2024 to kick off every sport at the Olympics.
Ahead of the Games, gold medallist Ami said that her goal at Paris 2024 was to see how far she could go by showcasing her own unique style of Breaking to the world. Win or lose, she added, she would have no regrets as she loves what she does.
An English and American Literature student at Komazawa University in Tokyo, Ami certainly schooled her opponents in Paris, dropping only a single round throughout the day. This included three Round Robin battles, a quarterfinal showdown against French B-Girl Syssy, and a semifinal contest against 2023 European Games champion India of the Netherlands.
Teen sensation Nicka, meanwhile, had a stellar run of her own to the final, and despite having to settle for silver, expressed her delight for Ami’s win by bouncing over to her opponent and giving her a hug after the results were announced.
Nicka said she was proud of finishing second and winning a medal for her country. Just as importantly, she saw Breaking’s inclusion at Paris 2024 as a victory for the Games in general: “I think the Olympics need Breaking,” she said. “It’s like a breath of fresh air. The whole world saw how wonderful Breaking is today.”
In the bronze-medal battle, 671 of the People’s Republic of China overcame India of the Netherlands to take third.
In total, 17 B-Girls representing 11 countries and the Refugee Olympic Team participated on Day 1, with the 16 B-Boys up next on Saturday.
Photos by Little Shao
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