'It’s been a long journey': Philip Kim set to be Canada's first-ever Olympic breaking athlete
The sport is making its Olympic debut in Paris.
Philip Kim, also known as Phil Wizard, will be Canada’s first Olympic breaking athlete this summer when he competes in the sport’s Olympic debut at Paris 2024.
The sport also made its Pan American Games debut last November at the Santiago 2023 games, where Kim became the first champion in the men’s event. By winning that competition in the Chilean capital, Kim also qualified for the Olympics.
“I’m beyond excited to represent Canada in the debut of breaking at Paris 2024,” said Kim in a press release. “It’s been a long journey, and I’ve learned and grown so much along the way. I’m 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.”
Kim, who was born in Toronto but now lives and trains in Vancouver, is one of the top athletes in the sport, and has reached the podium at the past three world championships. He won Canada’s first world title in breaking at the 2022 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) World Championships, improving on his silver medal at the 2021 worlds. He also won a silver medal at the 2023 world championships.
Known internationally for his creativity in the breaking world, Kim became the first Canadian to win the Undisputed World Series with his victory at the Undisputed V Masters in Morocco in January 2019. That year, he was also the first Canadian to be invited to the Red Bull RC One World Finals.
In 2023, Kim won gold at the WDSF Pan American Championships, after back-to-back podium finishes in Breaking for Gold World Series events — a silver medal in Rio de Janeiro before winning gold in Montpellier, France.
In 2016, the International Olympic Committee included breaking on the program for the Buenos Aires 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games, where Canada’s Emma Misak won a silver medal. Breaking was added to the Olympic program for Paris 2024 as a sport proposed by the Organizing Committee, but will not return for Los Angeles 2028.
Its future as an Olympic sport beyond that is unclear, but it will be included on the youth Olympic Games program in 2026. The World DanceSport Federation is targeting its re-inclusion for the Brisbane 2032 Summer Games.
“What separates hip hop from many other cultures, is that it is a culture that influences other cultures,” said Geoff Reyes, Breaking Canada’s Team Leader, in a press release. “Phil 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.”
Breaking will take place August 9 and 10 at La Concorde 1 venue.
Thank you for reading this post on True North. To be the first person to read future posts, and listen to new podcast episodes, subscribe for free using the button below, or share the article with someone you know.