But breaking is not just any sport. Until the news came that it was going to be an Olympic sport, breaking was a street dance, a youth culture, a pillar of hip hop that had nothing to do with traditional associations and structures. But then the International Dance Sport Federation took on breaking and shaped it according to its own and the Olympic ideas. Everything was new: associations, trainers, courses, competitions. And the qualification system for Paris. And a world ranking list. What you can destroy if you know little about a sport was shown in Paris.
While the best dancers in the world thrilled the audience, the only participant who has as much to do with breaking as, say, Amira Pocher with the ballet ensemble of the Paris Opera was at the center of the headlines: the 37-year-old Australian Rachael Gunn, who performed a kind of kangaroo dance, a farce beyond compare, and received more attention than the stars of the scene from the media, who are more interested in such embarrassments than in real athletes. The question of how such an amateurish performance could make it into the field of only 16 participants in Paris was quickly answered.
The qualification meant that the winners of the continental championships qualified directly for Paris. Rachael Gunn won in Oceania. Why? Because serious breakers could not or did not want to afford the travel costs to the qualifying competition. The incompetence of the association had given a clever amateur a way to Paris. You might find a certain charm in this in memory of the ski jumper “Eddy the Eagle”, but the opposite is the case.
In Paris, the federation and Rachael Gunn disgraced breaking and pushed the stars of the scene, all great athletes and dancers, into the background. You can dismiss the Australian’s performance as a joke, but for breaking, this joke is not funny. The discipline is fighting for its Olympic future.
The Breakers will not be there in four years in Los Angeles, that was already clear before the games in Paris. But they had hoped again for 2032. Then the Summer Games will take place in Brisbane, Australia. In Australia of all places. The organizers there will think twice about whether to revive the Breakers’ Olympic career with a wildcard when they read the latest report that Rachael Gunn is currently number one in the dance association’s world rankings. No joke.
Breakdance JO 2024 participants
Table of Contents
The Rise and Fall of Breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Breaking, a street dance and pillar of hip hop, has undergone a significant transformation since its announcement as an Olympic sport for the Paris 2024 Olympics [[1]]. The International Dance Sport Federation took on breaking, shaping it according to Olympic ideals, introducing new associations, trainers, courses, competitions, and a qualification system for Paris, as well as a world ranking list [[1]]. However, this transformation has also led to controversy and disappointment.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the best breakers in the world thrilled the audience, but a surprising performer stole the spotlight: Rachael Gunn, a 37-year-old Australian who performed a kangaroo dance, farce-like in comparison to the rest of the competitors [[2]]. The question on everyone’s mind was how such an amateurish performance could make it into the field of only 16 participants in Paris. The answer lay in the qualification system, where the winners of the continental championships qualified directly for Paris. Rachael Gunn won in Oceania, but only because serious breakers couldn’t or didn’t want to afford the travel costs to the qualifying competition.
The incompetence of the association had given a clever amateur a way to Paris, disgracing breaking and pushing the stars of the scene, all great athletes and dancers, into the background. While some might find charm in this situation, reminiscent of the ski jumper “Eddy the Eagle”, the opposite is true. The performance was not a joke, but rather a reflection of the mismanagement of the sport.
The Paris 2024 Olympics was supposed to be a historic moment for breaking, marking its debut as an Olympic sport [[2]]. Instead, it was marred by controversy and disappointment. The qualification system, meant to bring together the best breakers from around the world, had failed to do so. The stars of the scene, who had worked tirelessly to perfect their craft, were overshadowed by an amateurish performance.
the International Dance Sport Federation and Rachael Gunn’s performance did more harm than good to the sport of breaking. The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of athletic excellence, not a platform for embarrassment and controversy. As the world moves on from the Paris 2024 Olympics, one can’t help but wonder what could have been if the qualification system had been more robust and the association more competent.
For those interested in staying up-to-date with the latest Olympic Breaking news, schedule, and results, visit the official Olympics website [[3]].
the story of breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper management and qualification systems in sports. The mismanagement of breaking has led to controversy and disappointment, overshadowing the excellence of the sport’s true stars.
What is breaking sport Olympics
The Rise and Fall of Breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Breaking, a street dance and pillar of hip hop, has undergone a significant transformation since its announcement as an Olympic sport for the Paris 2024 Olympics [[1]]. The International Dance Sport Federation took on breaking, shaping it according to Olympic ideals, introducing new associations, trainers, courses, competitions, and a qualification system for Paris, as well as a world ranking list [[1]]. However, this transformation has also led to controversy and disappointment.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, the best breakers in the world thrilled the audience, but a surprising performer stole the spotlight: Rachael Gunn, a 37-year-old Australian who performed a kangaroo dance, farce-like in comparison to the rest of the competitors [[2]]. The question on everyone’s mind was how such an amateurish performance could make it into the field of only 16 participants in Paris. The answer lay in the qualification system, where the winners of the continental championships qualified directly for Paris. Rachael Gunn won in Oceania, but only because serious breakers couldn’t or didn’t want to afford the travel costs to the qualifying competition.
The incompetence of the association had given a clever amateur a way to Paris, disgracing breaking and pushing the stars of the scene, all great athletes and dancers, into the background. While some might find charm in this situation, reminiscent of the ski jumper “Eddy the Eagle”, the opposite is true. The performance was not a joke, but rather a reflection of the mismanagement of the sport.
The Paris 2024 Olympics was supposed to be a historic moment for breaking, marking its debut as an Olympic sport [[2]]. Instead, it was marred by controversy and disappointment. The qualification system, meant to bring together the best breakers from around the world, had failed to do so. The stars of the scene, who had worked tirelessly to perfect their craft, were overshadowed by an amateurish performance.
The International Dance Sport Federation and Rachael Gunn’s performance did more harm than good to the sport of breaking. The Olympics are meant to be a celebration of athletic excellence, not a platform for embarrassment and controversy. As the world moves on from the Paris 2024 Olympics, the future of breaking as an Olympic sport is uncertain.
In fact, it’s already clear that breaking will not be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. But there was still hope for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, where breaking could have made a comeback. However, with Rachael Gunn currently ranked number one in the dance association’s world rankings, it’s hard to see how breaking can recover from this debacle.
The story of breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of proper management and organization in sports. When a sport is mismanaged, it can lead to embarrassing and controversial performances, damaging the reputation of the sport as a whole. The rise and fall of breaking at the Paris 2024 Olympics is a story that will be remembered for years to come.
References:
[[1
