(Vancouver) Canadian Philip Kim’s gold medal in breaking at the Paris Olympics introduced the world to the sport and its culture of peace, love and unity, according to his former coaches.
Kim, who dances under the name “B-Boy Phil Wizard”, won the first ever Olympic gold medal in men’s breaking in Paris by beating French local favourite Dany Dann in Saturday’s final.
Breaking is a mix of dance, gymnastics, acrobatics, head-turning balance and a good dose of courage. This style of urban dance was created in New York in the 1970s.
Those who practice breaking are called b-boys and b-girls.
Kim began her dance journey in Vancouver, and her former coach, Jheric Hizon, admitted that watching Kim perform her magic in Paris was an incredible experience.
PHOTO CHRISTINNE MUSCHI, CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Canadian Philip Kim at the Paris Olympics
“He was really on top that day,” Hizon said of the final. “Philip does a lot of freestyle in his dancing, so he used some of his signature moves earlier in the competition and then he was really relaxed and having a lot of fun.”
As Kim’s mentor, who first introduced him to hip-hop at age 10, Hizon said seeing him apply everything he’s learned to become the 27-year-old “Phil Wizard” is an accomplishment.
I’m sure those who watched the games, especially the younger ones, are inspired, and I’m sure those who are breaking right now will train even more, even harder, and maybe take this dance a little more seriously.
Jheric Hizon, former coach of Philip Kim
Breaking made its Olympic debut at the Paris Games and attracted a huge audience.
But this may be the sport’s last appearance, as it is not part of the programme for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Kim won Canada’s first world title in breaking at the World DanceSport Federation Championships in 2022.
“When he started winning outside of North America, it got more serious,” Hizon said, adding that Kim was then making a living from breaking.
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN, ASSOCIATED PRESS
“B-Boy Phil Wizard” won the first ever Olympic gold medal in men’s breaking in Paris.
Kim won the first gold medal in breaking at the Pan American Games when the sport made its debut in Santiago last November. By winning, he qualified to represent Canada in Paris.
Hizon says Kim developed a unique style in breaking, not only understanding “the vocabulary of breaking,” but also knowing how to put all of his moves together.
“A lot of these moves are within the reach of anyone, but it’s the way you put them together, so it’s like creating a puzzle and he creates these puzzles with beautiful figures,” he analyzed. “And while people are still wondering where the pieces go, he figured out how to make them really fast and unique.”