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B-boy legend Hong 10 to represent Korea at Paris Olympics

Published: 24 Jun. 2024, 14:14 Updated: 25 Jun. 2024, 17:32

Korea's Hong 10 performs during the battle for third place in the B-boys event at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

Veteran B-boy Hong 10 will be Korea’s sole representative in breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where the sport will make its Olympic debut.

The 40-year-old B-boy, whose real name is Kim Hong-yul, took second place in the B-boy contest at the two-part Olympic Qualifier Series, which wrapped up in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday.

It was the final shot for athletes in breaking, BMX freestyle, skateboarding and sport climbing to qualify for Paris after the first leg of the qualifier series in Shanghai, China in May.

Hong 10 beat Japan’s Issin 2-1 in the B-boy battle for third place on Sunday, losing the first round but winning the second and third rounds, each by a unanimous vote.

Korea's Hong 10 performs during the battle for third place in the B-boys event at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. [AFP/YONHAP]

It brought his total tally from both legs of the qualifier series to 79 points, 21 points behind No. 1 Lee of the Netherlands — first place in Budapest and in Shanghai.

A total of 16 B-boys qualified for the men’s breaking competition. The top seven finishers at the Olympic Qualifier Series earned tickets to Paris, with each country eligible to send a maximum of two representatives. Seven B-boys had already qualified for the Games, earning their places through other international competitions.

Hong 10 narrowly missed out on a direct ticket after coming in second at the Hangzhou Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last fall. He lost the final battle to Japan’s Shigekix, who won gold and the Asian qualifying spot, and was the only Korean to medal in breaking’s Asian Games debut.

At 40, Hong 10 will be the oldest B-boy at the Olympics. He broke out onto the international breaking scene during the early 2000s — and never left.

Korea's Hong 10 poses during a victory ceremony at the 2024 Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday. [AP/YONHAP]

He rose to fame as a member of the B-boy crew Expression and is a three-time winner of the Red Bull BC One Championship, one of the biggest individual international breaking competitions, winning titles in 2006, 2013 and 2023.

Fellow Korean B-boy Wing, also known as Kim Heon-woo, failed to make the top seven, finishing in overall 14th. Korean B-girl Fresh Bella, Jeon Ji-ye, came the closest to qualifying for the women’s breaking contest, finishing in overall 11th place.

Sport climbers Lee Do-hyun, Seo Chae-hyun and Shin Eun-cheol also qualified to the Paris Olympics through the Olympic Qualifier Series.

The Olympics run from July 26 to Aug. 11, and breaking will take place on Aug. 9 and 10, with B-girl battles on the first day and B-boy battles on the second.

BY MARY YANG [[email protected]]