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As the 2024 Olympics in Paris approach, the spotlight is on a new and exciting sport making its debut: breaking, commonly known as breakdancing. Leading the charge for Team USA are two talented athletes, Jeffrey “B-Boy Jeffro” Louis and Victor “B-Boy Victor” Montalvo.
Jeffrey Louis, known in the breaking community as “B-Boy Jeffro,” began his journey into breaking at the age of 10. Inspired by his brother, who learned the dance in school and taught him, Jeffro's passion for breaking grew rapidly. Now 29, he reflects on the unexpected journey that led him to the Olympics. Initially, Louis pursued breaking purely for the love of the dance, but as the possibility of it becoming an Olympic sport emerged in 2020, he started training with the dedication of an athlete.
Louis emphasizes that breaking is far more than just flashy moves. “It’s not just backflips and head spins. There’s intricate movements, style, and originality,” he says. He hopes new fans will appreciate the complexity and artistry of the sport, which requires dancers to adapt and improvise to unfamiliar music selected by the event’s DJ .
Victor Montalvo, also known as “B-Boy Victor,” began breaking even earlier, at the age of six. His introduction to the sport came from his father and uncle, both pioneers of breaking in Mexico. Montalvo, now 30, has made significant strides in the sport, becoming the first American to qualify for the Olympics by winning the 2023 World Breaking Championship in Leuven, Belgium .
Montalvo is passionate about breaking’s rich cultural heritage and its potential to inspire creativity. He describes breaking as “bringing your creativity and imagination into this art form.” His journey has been marked by a deep connection to his family’s legacy and a relentless pursuit of excellence, despite the sport’s challenging improvisational demands.
The inclusion of breaking in the Olympics is a significant milestone for the sport. It was first showcased at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, which set the stage for its addition to the Paris 2024 program. The competition format will see breakers battling head-to-head in front of judges, who will score them on creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality .
Both Louis and Montalvo are excited to introduce breaking to a global audience. They hope to dispel common misconceptions about the sport and highlight its artistic and athletic depth. As they prepare for Paris, these trailblazers are not just competing for medals but also for the recognition and growth of breaking worldwide.
