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Agence France-Presse

At age 40, Japanese competitive breakdancer Ayumi Fukushima has been busting moves for longer than some of her rivals have been alive.
But the former kindergarten teacher won a qualifier in Shanghai and is in pole position for a prized spot at the Paris Olympics.
A repeat performance in Budapest next month would send Fukushima, who competes as B-Girl Ayumi, to this summer’s Games as one of the favourites for gold.
Breakdancing, or “breaking” as the sport is officially called, will make its Olympic debut in the French capital.
“I’m old but I don’t feel too much old,” Fukushima said after her victory in China at the weekend.

Fukushima has long been a trailblazer for B-Girls in what has traditionally been a male-dominated scene.
In 2017 she became the first woman to compete at the Red Bull BC One World Finals.
She has since won at the 2021 WDSF World Breaking Championship in Paris, where the competition was split into men and women categories.
She also took bronze at the 2022 World Games and 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Fukushima first dabbled in breakdancing as a shy 21-year-old student.
“In my generation it was kind of normal to start when we’re in university,” she said in Shanghai, where she topped the B-girl competition. “But these days most of the people start when they’re kids.”
Fukushima never thought she would have a chance to compete in the Olympics, and given her age, it could be her first and last shot at it.

“It’s a new thing for us, for the Olympics, so I’m really happy to be in this process,” she said.
Japan has long been a breakdancing powerhouse, with three Japanese B-Girls and one B-Boy making it onto the podium in Shanghai on Sunday.
“All the young people are very strong,” Fukushima said of her teammates. “It’s not only winning, we enjoy this moment.”
For years, Fukushima balanced her day job as a teacher with her role as a member of a dance crew based in Kyoto.
She has cut back on her teaching duties in recent months, and is now “more focused on dancing”.
But she carves out time to give dance classes to young children, who she hopes will bring the fledgling sport to greater heights.

“Everywhere I go I see many kids interested in breaking … and for us it’s really happy.”
On the sidelines of the Shanghai qualifier, dozens of children practised breakdancing moves at a public workshop intended to popularise the sport, while the Japanese team warmed up nearby.
“Hopefully we get more people to get in touch with our culture,” Fukushima said.
And while other long-time dancers have debated whether inclusion in the Olympics could compromise the freewheeling, rebellious spirit of breakdancing, Fukushima said she does not believe the culture of breakdancing will change.
“We have a sport and a culture … I think we’re gonna grow both together,” she said.


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Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Paris Olympics 2024: Japanese breakdancing trailblazer Ayumi Fukushima, 40, on cusp of fulfilling lifelong dream

Japan’s Ayumi Fukushima in the women’s breaking final at the Olympic qualifier series in Shanghai this week. Photo: Kyodo

Fukushima after winning the Breaking B-Girls final at the Olympic qualifier in Shanghai last week. Photo: AFP

Fukushima, who started breakdancing at 21, never thought she would ever compete in the Olympics. Photo: AFP

Fukushima (right) and Ami Yuasa have helped make Japan a breakdancing powerhouse. Photo: Kyodo

Breaking down breaking – understanding the Olympic event, where the dance originated and learning its key moves

After an appearance at the Olympic Youth Games in 2018, breaking will debut at the Paris Games. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Breaking’s debut event in Paris will feature the world’s best 16 B-Boys and 16 B-Girls. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong is sending two B-Boys and two B-Girls to represent the city in Hangzhou. Photo: Edmond So

Breakdancing has its roots in African-American and Latino culture, dating back to the 1970s. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The ‘B’ in B-boy or B-Girls can mean either ‘Break’ or ‘Bronx’, referring to the sport’s origins. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Asian Games 2023: B-Boy C Plus ‘enjoyed this journey’ despite Hong Kong breakdancers’ humbling in Hangzhou

B-Girl Lady Little reached the round-robin stage of the breaking competition. Photo: Dickson Lee

B-Boy C Plus ranks 11th out of 25 in preselection to seal a spot in the round robin. Photo: Dickson Lee

Sport

Other Sport

Former kindergarten teacher won a qualifier in Shanghai and needs a repeat performance in Budapest to qualify for Paris
If she makes it, it would be her first – and probably last – chance to win gold in the sport, which will be making its Olympics debut


If the former kindergarten qualifies for Paris, it would be her first – and probably last – chance to win gold in the sport, which is making its Olympics debut.


Breakdancing

Paris Olympics 2024: Japanese breakdancing trailblazer Ayumi Fukushima, 40, on cusp of fulfilling lifelong dream

Former kindergarten teacher won a qualifier in Shanghai and needs a repeat performance in Budapest to qualify for Paris If she makes it, it would be her first – and probably last – chance to win gold in the sport, which will be making its Olympics debut

Former kindergarten teacher won a qualifier in Shanghai and needs a repeat performance in Budapest to qualify for Paris

If she makes it, it would be her first – and probably last – chance to win gold in the sport, which will be making its Olympics debut