Australian b-girl Raygun made waves at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her unconventional and meme-worthy dance moves, but failed to win any points in the competition. Many viewers questioned whether her performance truly captured the essence of hip-hop and breaking culture. Meanwhile, Lithuania’s silver medalist b-girl Nicka faced criticism for wearing a durag, a traditionally Black hair accessory, as a white woman.
The inclusion of breaking in the Olympics raised concerns about losing the roots of the dance form, which originated in Black and brown communities in the Bronx as a form of empowerment. Refugee b-girl Talash made a political statement with a “Free Afghan Women” cape but was disqualified for violating the ban on political statements. American b-girls Logistx and Sunny were eliminated in the round-robin phase, disappointing fans from the birthplace of hip-hop.
Despite the controversies, rappers Snoop Dogg and ICE T expressed excitement over the breaking competition, with hopes that it would showcase the true spirit of hip-hop. The b-boys will take the stage next, giving Olympic breaking another chance to represent the culture. As breaking continues to evolve in the Olympic spotlight, it remains to be seen how the art form will adapt to fit into the traditional sports arena.
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