Sunny Choi spins upside down on one hand. As she turns, her legs pump to the beat of hip-hop music. A champion breakdancer, or breaker, Choi is thrilled that her sport will soon have a bigger spotlight: the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. This August, breaking will make its debut as an official Olympic sport.
Breaking is a high-energy dance style that originated in New York City in the 1970s. It features complex footwork, gymnastics-style tumbling, and moves like spinning headstands. But how do breakers keep twirling and twisting without missing a beat? They learn how their bodies respond to different forces—like the downward pull of gravity and the slowing force of friction—and use this knowledge to their advantage.
For Choi, breaking “is about figuring out my voice and how I express myself.” She’s excited for “an opportunity to represent this culture, this dance,
and this community” at the Olympics this summer.