Phil 'Wizard' Kim thrilled with gold medal, but more excited breaking ...

'I’ve always wanted to live off of breaking. And the people I compete against on the stage are the people that I grew up watching and I look up to,' says Kim

Get the latest from Rob Longley straight to your inbox

Published Aug 10, 2024  •  Last updated 2 hours ago  •  6 minute read

Canada's Philip Kim, known as Phil Wizard competes during the gold medal final for breaking at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Paris. Photo by Frank Franklin II /AP photo

PARIS — He struts and he steps, he bounces and he breaks and he endlessly entertains. He is Philip Kim by his Canadian passport but, as the Olympic gold-medalist that he became here in wildly entertaining fashion on Saturday evening, he is Phil Wizard.

And that tells you all that you need to know about the B-boy magic that unfolded at La Concorde Arena when the 27-year-old Wizard — or Kim, your choice — overcame his fears and triumphed on the biggest stage for his sport.

Article content

“I was stressed out of my mind,” Kim said, the tears barely dried from the medal ceremony in which he became Canada’s ninth gold winner and 27th medallist overall. “(On Friday) I cried my eyes out because I was so scared to do this.

“There’s been a lot of pressure, a lot of expectations. I was glad I was able to deliver but more than anything I’m glad I enjoyed the moment. I truly had a lot of fun today. This is history in the making for us.”

History in so many ways. As a first-time Olympic sport — and, for now, one-and-done — he is the best B-boy the Games have ever seen. But more importantly from Kim’s perspective, the performance helped to support the sport he loves so much.

“I never thought I’d be here in my life,” Kim said before he shared hugs with a big group of family and friends who were in the lively crowd at one of the coolest stadiums at Paris 2024 to watch their friend and hero. “I’m just happy. I’m happy I delivered. I’m happy my loved ones were here. I’m still processing it all. I doubted myself for my whole life. To be here, truly it means a lot.”

Kim, the entertaining, athletic B.C. breaker, certainly put on a show, all right. It was a wild atmosphere in the final as sunset arrived on the last full day of these Games. And as much as the gilded prize around his neck meant so much, the show and the prospect what it might do for his sport meant so much more.

Article content

“I hope it open doors for people. I’ve dedicated my life to this,” Kim said. “So did all the people competing today and I think it’s an under-appreciated sport. I think today was an incredible example of showing the world how great breaking is. That was truly my only goal here.”

The ceremony, after he defeated local here and the pride of Paris, Dany Dan — real name Daniel Lakoué — was an emotional scene as Kim choked up and had to stop singing the anthem as he wiped away tears.

It was an artistic and athletic triumph for Wizard — and yes, Olympic sports can be and often is both — even if there is some explaining to do.

“A lot of people might look at us and not understand what we’re doing. But to an experienced breaker we’re showcasing originality, musicality and diversity,” said Wizard, who was born in Toronto. “For me, this has always been my dream. I’ve always wanted to live off of breaking. And the people I compete against on the stage are the people that I grew up watching and I look up to. “So for me, it’s a joy just to be up there and representing my country now on a stage and scale like this.”

Article content

Kim is certainly one of the most engaging Canadian athletes here, a dude passionate about his sport and determined to help it grow. Yes, breaking is a one-and-done sport not on the menu for Los Angeles 2028 after making its debut here. And yes, it’s a judged event that takes some getting used to, both in its style and what is needed for success.

For entertainment, though, there’s no denying breaking moves the meter. With that in mind, it really was a scene at La Concorde, as urban a setting as you’ll find in downtown Paris for the ultimate urban sport.

The fans were loving it, even if they weren’t completely understanding it as the boos after favoured American Victor downed Japan’s Hiro10 in one “battle” of the round-robin phase. The latter had a kick-ass physical performance, the former a more judge-friendly artistic effort.

“They booed because the physicality that Hiro10 has was amazing,” Victor explained. “I don’t have that type of physicality, but I beat him in a different way, which was originality, which was dancing, which was having my own style and not repeating. I understand why they booed because this is their first time watching breaking and they don’t know how it’s judged.”

Article content

They may not have completely understood it, but they loved it.

The crowds were festive and vocal and those without tickets lined up 10 deep or more in spots on the outside to soak up the atmosphere and enhance the vibe. Outside of the stadium, kids of all ages — I saw one as young as two — were breaking out their moves between sessions.

The sport is made for viral moments as well, of course, as we saw with the B-girls explosion from Aussie Raygun’s efforts the previous night.

Back to Wizard, who breezed through the round-robin phase winning all three of his battles, and then defeated Lee of the Netherlands in the quarterfinal, setting the stage for his medal run. Judges game him the 3-0 decision over Shigekix setting up the gold-medal showdown with Dan.

Recommended from Editorial

PHOTOS FROM PARIS: See some of the most incredible Olympic moments so far

Ken Dryden: If you remember anything from these Olympics, make it Djokovic-Alcaraz

Victor, the 2023 world champ and thus the gold medal favourite here, is a big backer of Canada’s best breaker. “Phil Wizard is amazing,” Victor said. “He’s got the formula down. He reminds me of me. He started figuring it out, started performing and kept on getting better and better and better.

Article content

“He’s so unique — a lot of threads and unconventional type movements. He’s also super musical and a showman on stage. He knows how to adapt in the moment and has that unexpected factor to the beat.”

Breaking’s somewhat controversial addition to the Olympic menu — and then sudden departure — can’t be easy for the athletes. It must be especially vexing given the huge crowds at La Concorde on Saturday.

It’s often difficult to predict how a new sport is received at an Olympics — or how it got there in the first place. The clear impetus was to appeal to a young crowd and, in its debut here, that was indeed accomplished. It was bittersweet, however, given the quick erasure from the menu.

“Of course, it’s disappointing for us, but I think my focus and everyone’s focus is just to put on a good show,” Wizard said. “I want people to fall in love with breaking the way I fell in love with it when I first started and I think the Olympics is not the be all and end all.

“I think it’s unfortunate because I’ve truly fallen in love with the process and the sports world and meeting other athletes and being a part of Team Canada. It’s been truly an honour and I’m very sad that this will be a one-and-done. But I have a very positive mindset going forward. I think people are falling in love with breaking and, for me, that’s always been the goal — to grow this sport.”

Article content

Victor feels the same way. The culture of breaking is such that it can be artistic and entertaining, but also competitive with a profound sense of camaraderie among the dancer athletes.

“People can pick their favourite character,” Victor said. “We’re all characters. We all have our different styles and it’s so cool to watch.

“But I’m excited that the Olympics put breaking on the map because now they get to see a new and evolved version of breaking, not the breaking from the 1970s, the breaking from now that everyone has been missing out on.”

They weren’t missing much on Saturday. The show. The sensation. And a big gold Canadian medal.

Breaking news it was.

Article content