Canadian b-boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) took gold in the first Olympic men’s breaking tournament Saturday.

Canadian b-boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) took gold in the first Olympic men’s breaking tournament Saturday.

“I never thought I’d be here in my life,” the 27-year-old said, wiping away tears. He spent the last few sleepless nights “tossing and turning” because he was “stressed out of my mind.”

“I cried yesterday because I was so scared to do this, and, I’m just happy. I’m just happy,” he said.

Hometown favorite French b-boy Dany Dann (Danis Civil) won silver, and American b-boy Victor (Victor Montalvo) took the bronze after taking out Japanese b-boy Shigekix (Shigeyuki Nakarai). These Olympic medals may be the last for breaking, at least for some time — the dance form is not in the lineup of sports for the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

    • Sockenklaus@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      32·
      1 month ago

      Seeing this video I am 100 % convinced that break dance battles are the most wholesome form of direct competition. These two athletes treating each other with respect and fun while competing against each other for Olympic gold ist just amazing.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
        15·
        1 month ago

        You know what else is? The World’s Strongest Man competitions. ESPN2 used to show them, not sure if they still do. Everyone is super supportive of each other. They will come to each other’s aid if something goes wrong and they are all really happy for whoever wins. Super strong guys who have absolutely no aggression toward each other. It’s a cool competition (and weird as fuck) and everyone likes each other.

    • Albbi@lemmy.caEnglish
      15·
      2 months ago

      Holy crap, he looked like when the character physics glitch out in a video game, but under control at the same time.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      13·
      1 month ago

      Holy shit, their whole routines are improvised. They hadn’t heard the music before.

      I am fucking floored.

    • CileTheSane@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      1 month ago

      The performance was amazing, the announcers sucked.

      When I watch any Olympic competition I have never seen before I have some idea what is going on because the announcers make a point of saying who these people are, why a move is difficult/impressive, what the requirements are, and why deductions might happen.

      Here all I heard was “YA BOOOOOOYYYYYYY!” through the entire performance, with a brief mention of an error made by France but I have no idea what that error actually was.

      • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOPEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        He tried to do a maneuver onto his head, but he missed the timing and wasn’t in the right position. Just before the announcers talk about it you see his head go down to the floor, but he wasn’t high enough to get the top of his head down … just the side of his head, then he slid.

        It was a lot like a missed landing in gymnastics.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
    19·
    2 months ago

    Did they have to compete under their real names? I think it would be cooler if they could use their chosen names.

    What sounds cooler on the podium:

    “The winner of the gold medal is Philip Kim!”

    or

    “The winner of the gold medal is Phil Wizard!”

    He’s a wizard, man. Call him a wizard.

    • Poop@lemmy.caEnglish
      34·
      2 months ago

      On the CBC coverage they didn’t use anyone’s real names, it was all just dance names.

      I thought it was super entertaining compared to something like running or high jump. If anyone doubts these people’s athleticism, just watch and you’ll change your mind.

      • Zipitydew@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        10·
        2 months ago

        Which also shouldn’t be sports. Yes they’re hard to do. But if the scoring is mostly based on style it’s not a sport. That’s a hobby that got out of hand and over competitive.

        • InEnduringGrowStrong@sh.itjust.works@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          17·
          2 months ago

          sport: an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

          Physical exertion ✅
          Skill ✅
          Competition ✅
          Entertainment ✅

          You’re free to dislike judged sports, but they’re still sports.

            • jaemo@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              17·
              1 month ago

              Well I think we can all agree not to put you in charge of any important decisions after today.

                • jaemo@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
                  6·
                  1 month ago

                  Thank you for your UNSOLICITED AND SUBJECTIVE OPINION.

                  After brief consideration, I have determined it to be of absolutely no worth to me, but your very singular wit is welcome to it.

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
              12·
              2 months ago

              That’s literally how the Olympics has always been. You’re basically saying the Olympics shouldn’t be the Olympics.

              • Zipitydew@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
                5·
                2 months ago

                No it’s not. Wrestling doesn’t involve style points. Track and field don’t either. I’ve never seen judges grade marathon runners on their form.

                • SMillerNL@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  11·
                  2 months ago

                  High jump has judges, so does boxing. I’d say both are sports people would expect in the olympics.

                • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
                  6·
                  2 months ago

                  Yes it is because, again, the Olympics have always been like this. You tell me one Olympics where that was not the case.

            • girlfreddy@lemmy.caOPEnglish
              8·
              2 months ago

              Style points are awarded in multiple Olympic sports including gymnastics, BMX freestyle, sychronized swimming, certain diving categories, and in winter sports like freestyle skiing, figure skating, and snowboarding.

              If you have a problem with that don’t watch those Olympic sports.

        • yamanii@lemmy.worldEnglish
          4·
          1 month ago

          This lemmy will look you dead in the eye and say that skateboarding and surfing aren’t sports because they also use judge based scores.

    • shadowedcross@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      20·
      2 months ago

      I really hate this take, the Olympics isn’t just about physical sports, it’s also about human skill, and determination. Both of which can be found in many different areas of expertise, including dancing. Not that the average person could even do this without a certain baseline level of fitness.

      • enkers@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        15·
        2 months ago

        Not that the average person could even do this without a certain baseline level of fitness.

        And that’s a huge understatement. You need incredible core and upper body strength to do any of those holds. You need to have an elite level of fitness to compete at that level.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      18·
      2 months ago

      Because it takes a shit ton of skill and has been competitive since it started in the late 60s. Yes, it goes that far back.

    • Jtee@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      2 months ago

      Because it’s incredibly athletic, which is what the Olympics is all about

    • juliebean@lemm.eeEnglish
      7·
      1 month ago

      idk dude, how does anything get to be an olympic sport? it gets popular enough and the olympic committee thinks it’ll draw a crowd and decides to include it. it’s not like there aren’t several other dance sports in the games already.

    • Elextra@literature.cafeEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      I find it very interesting too that its a sport. Not because its dance but theres so many types of dancing… Salsa, ballroom, river dancing, swing, etc. Why is there only a certain type of dance for the Olympics?

  • Danquebec@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    7·
    1 month ago

    Why did he (apparently) randomly lift his shirt to show his belly at times?

    I’m entirely unfamiliar with breaking.

  • AmidFuror@fedia.io
    6·
    2 months ago

    What do you guys think about all the cultural appropriation concerns for breaking in the Olympics?

    Edit: Re-read my question (left it unedited), and it appears “all the cultural appropriation concerns” means I think that it raises said concerns. It would have been much better written as “all the people raising concerns” or “all the concerns being raised.”

    Woopsie.

    • FinnFooted@lemmy.worldEnglish
      24·
      2 months ago

      I think its a way to argue that sports developed by certain groups shouldn’t be allowed in the Olympics because then those who didn’t traditionally develop said sport might compete in them. It results in exclusion, which is worse than the risk of cultural appropriation IMO.

      • Moneo@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        Why is exclusion worse than cultural appropriation? I’m excluded from the traditions of the first nations people where I live because I’m not first nations, is that a bad thing?

        Most sports are not as recent as break and do not have the same cultural significance. Break was developed by an oppressed people who have historically had their artistic creations repackaged and sold without their involvement. I have no idea whether breaks inclusion in the games is cultural appropriation but I don’t feel like you are giving the proper context to the conversation.

        • FinnFooted@lemmy.worldEnglish
          2·
          1 month ago

          So then they should never have the chance to perform their sports at the Olympics or on an international stage? Representation matters. It wasn’t just white ladies break dancing at the Olympics.

          • Moneo@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            1 month ago

            Whats your argument? Everyone should have their sport at the Olympics even if it’s problematic?

            You’re not engaging with the conversation, you’re just saying people will be disappointed if break isn’t an olympic sport.

            • FinnFooted@lemmy.worldEnglish
              1·
              1 month ago

              I’m saying people won’t be represented. Not just disappointed. Representation is important. That’s my argument. I said it very clearly. Representation isn’t problematic and my argument is literally that I think representation is more important than the risk of cultural appropriation and exclusion. Tucking away minorities to save them from cultural appropriation isn’t it. Its infantalizing. Also, we can fight for inclusion and representation and still call out cultural appropriation when it occurs.

    • iegod@lemm.eeEnglish
      20·
      1 month ago

      Cultural appropriation is bullshit is what I think. Let people adapt and improvise. Anything else is pure conservatism.

      • Moneo@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 month ago

        Cultural appropriation is not bullshit. Look at the history of black people in america. Their art forms were copied by white people, sanitized, then sold to the masses with zero credit or compensation given to them. I’m not saying that only black people should be able to perform or enjoy those art forms, but there is a significant difference between respectful imitation and theft. Art forms that were created in large part due to the oppression they were put through, were copied with zero respect or acknowledgement, then repackaged and sold to the very people oppressing them. If you can’t see how that is a bad thing then idk what to say.

        To be clear I’m not arguing break being included in the olympics is cultural appropriation, that’s for the culture to decide not me.

    • lolcatnip@reddthat.comEnglish
      6·
      1 month ago

      I’m not convinced cultural appropriation, in the pejorative sense, is a valid concept. In all the examples of cultural appropriation I’ve seen that I agree are bad, there’s a better way to explain why it’s bad. For example, wearing Native American headdresses isn’t bad because a white person does it; it’s bad because it’s something you have to earn, like a medal, and the white people using it as a costume haven’t earned it. It would be equally disrespectful for a Native American to do the same thing.

    • Moneo@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      1 month ago

      Man fuck all the downvoters, this is a perfectly valid question. If they started a haka competition people wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss this.

      To answer you question, no idea, never thought of it. I’m pretty ignorant of break culture but I’d be interested to hear what those in the culture think of it’s inclusion.

  • moistclump@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    1 month ago

    From Toronto! Awesome. Represent, Phil. Also what’s with all the fuddy duddies in the comments?