Philip Kim, who competes as 91ƵB-Boy Phil Wizard,91Ƶ is set to make Canadian sports history this summer as the country91Ƶs first-ever Olympic breaking athlete.
Canada DanceSport, Breaking Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee confirmed Wednesday that Kim will join Canada91Ƶs Olympic team at the Paris Games.
Kim, from Vancouver, 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.
By winning the event, he qualified to represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where breaking will make its Olympic debut.
Kim won Canada91Ƶs first world title in breaking at the 2022 World DanceSport Federation championships. He was also runner-up at the 2021 and 2023 world championships.
The Olympic breaking competition takes place Aug. 9 and 10 in Paris.
91ƵIt91Ƶs been a long journey, and I91Ƶve learned and grown so much along the way,91Ƶ Kim said in a release. 91ƵI91Ƶm excited to continue that growth, and do my absolute best to showcase what I love to the world, and for the world to fall in love with it as well.91Ƶ
Breaking is an urban dance style that traces its origins to the Bronx in New York City during the mid-1970s.
It was added to the Paris Olympic program as a sport proposed by the Organizing Committee.
91ƵWhat separates hip hop from many other cultures, is that it is a culture that influences other cultures,91Ƶ said Geoff Reyes, Breaking Canada91Ƶs team leader. 91ƵPhil has the ability to inspire other athletes in his approach to breaking. We are excited to see his impact and influence as he represents Canada on the Olympic platform.91Ƶ
The Canadian Press