Breaking, also known as breakdancing, is making its Olympic debut at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. There is a Canadian who will be a genuine medal contender.
On Saturday, Phil Kim of Toronto, Ontario (who also goes by the name of Phil Wizard) won the gold medal at the 2022 World Breaking Championships in Seoul, South Korea. Kim defeated Shigekix of Japan in the final, 8-1, 3-6, 9-0. Victor of the United States won the bronze medal, as he defeated Kuzya of Ukraine 9-0, 8-1, 9-0.
This was the second straight year that Kim landed on the podium at the World Breaking Championships. He won the silver medal in 2021 as he was beaten by Victor last year in Paris in the gold medal matchup.
Breaking is the only new sport at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In the women’s event at the 2022 World Breaking Championships in Seoul, Japan won two medals as Ami won the gold medal and Ayumi won the bronze medal. Meanwhile, China’s Liu Qing-Yi won the silver medal. In an interesting statistic, Ayumi is 39 years of age, while Liu is only 16 years of age.
Even though Kim was born in Toronto, he is based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He generated interest at the age of 12 when he saw breakdancers performing in downtown Vancouver.
