Ukrainian Breakdancers Ready to Shine at Paris Olympics

Breakdancing is set to make its debut as an Olympic sport in Paris, and a strong Ukrainian team is willing to introduce their culture to the world. In fact, several members of the team, including these outstanding breakers, B-boy Kuzya and B-girl Kate are determined to show that despite the ongoing conflict, they are not just claiming medals but showcasing Ukraine’s positive spirits and cultural richness. The team spent the last few days in a sunlit sports complex in Poland where the Ukrainian preparation have been in full swing. The team’s style is unique as it merges traditional Ukrainian folklore elements absorbed from centuries-old Cossack dance with the modern-day breakdancing techniques.

Yet it is not just physical qualities that are being worked on as the dancers spend a lot of their time exercising psychological resistance. One of the most positive-thinking persons in the team is the athletes’ coach Denys Semenikhin believes that these qualities are particularly important under the current conditions when the Ukrainians are far away from home and are having a hard time focusing on other things except for the war. The Olympics features a two-day battle format where the dancers are judged on their originality, technique, and ability to dance to music, which may be chosen unexpectedly. It is an extreme challenge which really shows who is the best in truly breakdancing, serving as a perfect opportunity for the Ukrainian team to show their personal and national identity.