Among the unique sports being added to this year's Olympic lineup is breakdancing, referred to the IOC as "Breaking." Breaking took the hip-hop world by storm in the New York's Bronx borough from the 1970s and, at one point, was the centerpiece of a popular 2007 film, "Stomp the Yard." It officially entered the international competition scene during the 1990s, and debuted at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
In Paris, 16 athletes will compete in "spectacular solo battles" in an attempt to wow judges with a combination of moves matched to a DJ's minute-long tracks -- including the 6-Step, windmills and freezes. The IOC added that there is no points system for Breaking, unlike traditional sports.
"Rather than giving points to individual athletes, the judges make a comparison between two athletes who are in the same battle. The athlete who wins two out of a maximum three rounds is the overall winner."
The "B-Boys" and "B-Girls" will be judged and scored on five key areas: vocabulary, technique, execution, originality and musicality. Vocabulary is the "arsenal of moves" that competitors use during their routines. Technique is the athletes' athleticism, body control, and overall usage of the space. Execution refers to how smooth and sharp the moves are, and any crashes, falls, or breaks in a routine will be penalized. Originality is another key component, as even the most basic moves can be presented in a fresh way. Finally, there's musicality, which refers to how athletes understand the breaking music's rhythm and how well they can freestyle it.
Among the key competitors to watch are Americans Victor Montalvo and Sunny Choi, two of four Team USA members hoping to bring home some of the historic six medals at stake. Montalvo is a two-time world champion and considered a gold-medal favorite. Choi began practicing breaking in college and eventually left a six-figure salary to pursue her passion full-time.
The competition begins on Friday when the women take to the stage with round robin, quarterfinal, semifinal and finals all happening in one afternoon. The men's competition will take place on Saturday. It begins at 10 a.m. ET on each day with the finals at 2 p.m. ET.