There is an uproar on social media about the fact that breakdancing is an Olympic discipline.
Whether you’re insulted by the sheer audacity or just shocked that breakdancing is somehow a sport (and in the Olympics at that), the bottom line is that once you start watching these videos, you won’t be able to stop – for better or for worse, just like eating Pringles.
Let’s face it, there is NO reason breakdancing should be in the Olympics. We’re talking about the damn Olympics. The 1980 U.S. Men’s Hockey Team, Muhammad Ali, Carl Lewis, Usain Bolt… and then THIS guy who looks like he just had sex for the first time and then took some stimulants before spontaneously doing kangaroo jumps, well, just like that.
THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT BREAKING HAS PARTICIPATED IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES
The rules of the first Olympic “breaking” competition are something seen in the Bronx in the 80s. Dancers are divided into teams of two and compete in head-to-head competitions. Much like a rap battle, each dancer “reacts” to what the other dancer has done to outdo each other. Each win moves the athlete to the final round, which takes place later today for the women and Saturday for the men. The men and women compete in separate groups. Each battle consists of 3 dances.
Hell, it was so important that NBC even had Snoop Dogg in attendance to officially open the new competition, which of all the Olympic sports was the best fit for the star rapper.
Despite the rather humorous competitions, some of the highlights showed the dancers showing real skill, and in any other setting, it would definitely have had the audience throwing their hands in the air and shouting “Ohh, snap!” For example, the US team’s breakdancers Logistx gave it their all in their routines:
Unfortunately, the Americans were unable to win a medal in the end. The gold went to Japan, followed by Lithuania and China.
If we’re going to start adding some random, fun activities into the Olympics, how about we include air guitar? I’d win the gold medal at that, hands down.
