Vancouver-based Phil Kim set to become Canada's first-ever Olympic breaking athlete
Vancouver/IBNS: Vancouver-based Philip Kim, who competes as "B-Boy Phil Wizard," is set to make Canadian sports history this summer by becoming Canada's first-ever Olympic breaking athlete.
It was confirmed Wednesday that Kim will join Canada's Olympic team at the Paris Games by Canada DanceSport, Breaking Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee
Having won the first gold medal in B-Boys breaking competition at the Pan American Games as the dance sport made its debut at Santiago 2023 in November, Vancouver-based Kim qualified to represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where breaking will make its Olympic debut Aug 9 and 10 in Paris.
Besides winning Canada’s first world title in breaking at the 2022 World DanceSport Federation championships, Kim was also runner-up at the 2021 and 2023 world championships.
"It’s been a long journey, and I’ve learned and grown so much along the way...continue that growth, and do my absolute best to showcase...for the world to fall in love with it as well,” Kim said in a release.
An urban dance style tracing its origins to the Bronx in New York City during the mid-1970s, Breaking Canada made its Pan Am Games debut in Santiago, Chile and later proposed by the Organizing Committee was added to the Paris Olympic program as a sport .
Geoff Reyes, Breaking Canada’s team leader was reported saying that Phil's ability to inspire other athletes in his approach to breaking, would impact and influence his representation in Canada on the Olympic platform.
(Reported by Asha Bajaj)