Top line

Breaking, better known as breakdancing, will make its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics and is the newest Olympic sport alongside surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing.

Key data

What is the history of breaking?

Breaking originated during the rise of hip hop music in 1980s New York and became a staple in the Bronx community among the black and Puerto Rican population. DJ Kool Herc, known as the founding father of hip hop, is credited with discovering breaking after noticing that his audiences were waiting for breaks or pauses in the music to start dancing. At the time, the Bronx was facing major challenges amid the crack epidemic and rising violence, and breaking was seen as a positive outlet in the community. The sport continued to spread as hip hop gained popularity.

How is breaking judged at the Olympic Games?

Both B-girls and B-boys compete in a tournament-style competition. Each competition consists of three rounds and the athlete who wins two out of three rounds wins. A panel of nine judges evaluates the dancers based on six criteria: creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity and musicality. Performativity and creativity make up 60% of the judging, while the other elements make up 40%. Judges use a digital slider to score the athletes during their rounds.

Surprising fact

The breakers at the Olympics will have no idea what music they will be dancing to. The DJ will be in charge of the breakdance music in Paris and the dancers will have to improvise to random music.

tangent

At this point, there are no breakdancers scheduled to compete at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, so this year’s Games may be the only opportunity the world gets to see breakdancers on the Olympic stage.