# To those who think breaking should not be in the Olympics: Chillax. Or shove off **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [August 13, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633 "2024-08-13T00:32:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/1 "2024-08-13T00:32:20Z")
If you think breaking should not be an Olympic sport, I assume you feel the same way about artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. There’s an incredible amount of skill, strength, stamina, flexibility, hand-eye coordination, and willingness to be sore or injured in all of them. And did you scoff at snowboarding, and other winter sports that were considered x-treme when they were Olympified? Breaking is x-treme gymnastics, when you get down to it. And if you think there’s “nothing to it” about someone supporting their entire body weight on one arm while spinning, I want to hang out where you do. Seriously, Mr. Rilch and I and our friend group enjoyed the heck out of breaking. Snoop Dogg doing the _coup de baton_ to open the event is one of my top ten moments from these Games. And did you see the video of the **huge** line to get into the arena? We’re old enough to have been teens/tweens when breaking got started, and it is amazing to us that it now has cred. Even the music was a nostalgia trip; I heard **Apache** and **White Lines** being sampled. Never would have believed it, when I was first hearing those songs on WPLJ in the early '80s, that someday they would be used on an international stage. And as I said in the main thread, it will be ridiculous to have the next summer games in Los Angeles and _not_ have breaking as an event. I wouldn’t be surprised if some local celebs offer to fund it themselves, or whatever it takes. I can think of a few reasons for this attitude. It was the last weekend, and people were burned out. Some people just never gave a thought to breaking, or breakdancing, until this, and what they saw didn’t impress them enough to spark appreciation. And some may have been nonplussed by (summer) athletes wearing baggy clothing, and for the women, no makeup and their hair covered. For many people, a lot of the appeal of the summer Games is ogling, and this event gave no opportunity for that. That still doesn’t make it a non-event, though. And why do people even get so bent out of shape about an Olympic event they _don’t_ like? If every event was something they wanted to see, they’d never get any sleep. I can see being resentful if they thought the event they don’t like is standing in the way of something they would like to see added. But I doubt it’s that cut-and-dried. And finally, this from Mr. Rilch: > [Rilchiam]’s on point. I absolutely loved, loved, LOVED “Olympic Breaking”. It was a blast to watch, and the participating athletes were insanely skilled and incredibly creative with their moves and flow. The DJ’s played some hip-hop classics and the event turned me on to some new tracks (my new favorite track “The Carpenter” by “Homeboy Sandman” was used for a round in the women’s event). > > To the many haters out there who have taken the time to put this event down on social media, I can only assume you hate joy, happiness and watching people have a good time. Go pound salt. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/2 "2024-08-13T00:35:02Z")
Yeah ok. Almost no one cares either way. Regardless, it was a one off demonstration sport and will not be back next year. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/3 "2024-08-13T00:44:00Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > Regardless, it was a one off demonstration sport and will not be back next year. …or the year after that, or the year after _that!_ ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/4 "2024-08-13T00:49:25Z")
Ha! Nor in four years or probably ever. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/5 "2024-08-13T00:55:27Z")
You’d be wrong. I loved rhythmic gym and artistic swimming. I love all snow “ **Sports** ”. Dancing is not a sport. I was a dancer, (ballet to the college level, in a troupe that didn’t go to competitions, we performed) There are places Breaking is accepted and can be judged…not a sporting competition. Pah-leesh! I’m sorry the music was trash. The DJ crap was pitiful. Mostly it don’t really matter. It won’t last in the sport world. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/6 "2024-08-13T01:01:06Z")
At least it’s not as dumb as dressage. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/7 "2024-08-13T01:19:54Z")
I don’t think that any judged sport should be in the Olympics, and yes, that includes figure skating, synchronized swimming, and most gymnastics. Olympic corruption is bad enough as it is, without sports that rest entirely on what the officials say. That said, if we’re going to have judged events anyway, then why not breakdancing? Especially as an exhibition event. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/8 "2024-08-13T01:26:47Z")
Yeah, gotta agree, if it’s measured in human opinion, it doesn’t seem like much of a sport. But, I’m not the god of what is and what is not sport. If you’re including figure skating, then break dancing is fair game. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/9 "2024-08-13T01:50:39Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Dancing is not a sport. ::snip::There are places Breaking is accepted and can be judged…not a sporting competition. I think there’s enough gymnastics in breaking for it to be a sport. That is all. But hey, I’m 54 and that’s on the young side for these boards. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/10 "2024-08-13T02:21:34Z")
I’m not old. Of course Breaking is not easy. Neither is dancing on pointe shoes, otherwise…well, whatever. There is a difference in sport and dance. Gymnastics doesn’t allow many balletic moves to differentiate from dance. The Horse sports kinda weird me out but they’ve been there for a long time and are well honored. Anyway, they don’t ask my input as to what to include. I have no vote. So they’ll do what IOC decides, in the end. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/11 "2024-08-13T02:24:45Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > The Horse sports kinda weird Mr out but they’ve been there for a long time and are well honored. FWIW, didn’t they mention that this would be the last Olympics where the Modern Pentathlon will include the horse stuff? So that, starting in 2028, it’ll be running and swimming and shooting and fencing and — obstacle course? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/12 "2024-08-13T02:30:20Z")
Education, please. Is “Breaking” the same as break dancing? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/13 "2024-08-13T02:56:57Z")
Will they still have the regular horse jumping and dressage or is that even still a thing? ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/14 "2024-08-13T03:14:00Z")
Yes, as is Electric Boogaloo. I also think sports requiring a judging panel should be eliminated from the Olympics. With bias, pettiness, and corruption at play, it’s an unreliable measure of objective scoring. Also if you can’t go any higher than 9.9, everyone just ends up at 9.8 all the time and it just becomes meaningless. I also think round robin team sports should be eliminated. But that doesn’t leave much. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/15 "2024-08-13T03:29:21Z")
Many Black Americans aren’t happy with it: > **[Why Black Folks Believe Australian 'Breaking Professor' and the Entire...](https://www.theroot.com/was-breaking-at-the-paris-olympics-a-mockery-of-a-black-1851619585)** > > The Black community expressed disappointment in the competition and wished it better represented a breaking style of dance that was created by Black people. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/16 "2024-08-13T04:44:04Z")
Omg. That Australian break dancer was horrible. I laughed uncontrollably at the kangaroo thingy. It looked like some 7th grade level kid was trying to do a routine. Might have been cute for a kid but a grown lady? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/17 "2024-08-13T04:48:08Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Yes, as is Electric Boogaloo. Maybe the second one. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/18 "2024-08-13T04:56:10Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > If you think breaking should not be an Olympic sport, I assume you feel the same way about artistic swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. Honestly, my only problem with breaking is that it’s _too close_ to rhythmic gymnastics. You’re doing complicated gymnastic moves to music. People are dancing then balancing on their heads, doing flips, etc. It’s no less of an athletic endeavor than most other Olympic sports, and more athletic than many of them. And there are plenty of activities in the Olympics that are subjectively judged. So I have absolutely no problem with it being included in the Olympics. Then again, I’m a dance dad and my daughter is a competitive dancer, so I understand that world better than most I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/19 "2024-08-13T05:04:56Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Omg. That Australian break dancer was horrible. “Raygun” is a 36-year-old college professor with a doctorate in cultural studies who has published papers and done lectures on street dance and hip hop culture. She also has a background in dance and outside of academia, she works as a professional dancer (originally jazz and ballroom, though she got into breakdancing later in life). She clearly does not have the skill or athletic ability of her younger opponents in the Olympics. She went three rounds and received zero points. She’s most famous for being so bad. But hey, we’re talking about her, so she did something right. She’s like the [William Hung](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hung) of breakdancing I guess. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2024, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633/20 "2024-08-13T05:12:50Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Many Black Americans aren’t happy with it: > > [Black People: Australian Breaking Prof is A Mockery](https://www.theroot.com/was-breaking-at-the-paris-olympics-a-mockery-of-a-black-1851619585) That’s a really interesting take and much better than the “you go girl” I’ve been reading about her so far. It really was insulting. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-those-who-think-breaking-should-not-be-in-the-olympics-chillax-or-shove-off/1005633.md?page=2)