In a landmark moment for Team Canada, Phil Wizard, also known as Philip Kim, clinched gold in breaking's Olympic debut at Paris 2024. The 27-year-old Canadian b-boy dazzled the crowd at La Concorde, defeating French favorite Dany Dann in a dramatic final. Wizard’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as he won all three rounds of the final battle. Despite Dann’s strong start, earning four votes in the opening round compared to Wizard’s five, the Canadian’s undeniable skill shone through. Wizard swept the subsequent rounds, earning unanimous votes from all nine judges.
Wizard’s journey to the gold medal was marked by intense competition. In the semifinals, he faced Shigekix of Japan, a top contender in the sport. The match was fiercely contested, but Wizard emerged victorious with a clear 17-10 vote count. His performance was particularly impressive in the final two rounds, where he secured 6-3 victories. Prior to this, Wizard had already shown his dominance in the quarterfinals, decisively defeating Lee from the Netherlands with a 19-8 vote tally.
This historic win not only highlights Wizard’s exceptional talent but also marks a significant moment for the sport of breaking, which made its Olympic debut in Paris. The excitement surrounding breaking was palpable, with enthusiastic crowds flocking to Place de la Concorde to witness the new Olympic event. However, despite the buzz, breaking may not return to future Olympics, as organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Games have indicated they do not plan to include it.
Phil Wizard’s victory is bittersweet. While he is celebrated as the inaugural Olympic gold medalist in breaking, he also acknowledges the fleeting nature of the sport’s Olympic inclusion. "The Olympics is not the be all and end all," Wizard remarked, expressing both his pride and his hope that breaking will continue to capture hearts around the world. As the ultimate pioneer of Olympic breaking, Wizard's achievement stands as a unique and historic milestone in the sport’s history.
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