Breaking made its Olympic debut at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Breaking, also known as breakdancing, originated in the Bronx in New York City during the 1970s. Its Olympic competition used battles in which dancers performed individually while responding to music and competing against an opponent.
Paris 2024 featured two breaking events: a men’s event known as B-Boys and a women’s event known as B-Girls. Judges assessed elements including technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality and originality. The sport’s inclusion reflected the Olympic movement’s interest in urban and youth-oriented disciplines.
Breaking should not be confused with skateboarding, sport climbing or surfing, all of which made their Olympic debuts at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021. Paris was also the first Summer Olympics to award medals in breaking, but the sport was not included in the program announced for Los Angeles 2028.