Ukrainian Breakdancer’s Mission Surpasses Olympic Debut

Oleg Kuznietsov, a 34-year-old breakdancer from Ukraine, is set to showcase his skills as athletes from his nation strive for success in Paris. The competition will mark breaking’s debut at the Olympic Games.

Kuznietsov secured his place in Paris by qualifying in Budapest last month. He will be joined by fellow Ukrainian dancers Kateryna Pavlenko and Anna Ponomarenko in the breaking event.

“Representing my country on the Olympic stage is a mission for me,” Kuznietsov told Reuters, reflecting on Ukraine’s ongoing struggle against the Russian invasion since February 2022.

Despite his dedication to dance, Kuznietsov sometimes feels a lack of understanding from his peers.

“It’s not about facing daily hate, but sometimes I receive messages like, ‘Yo, bro, what are you doing? Go to the army or something.’ But I represent Ukraine on this stage. At this moment, athletes are the voice of Ukraine.

“We are showing that we are fighting, we are going to win. We’re still here, fighting and doing our best,” he said.

Breakdancing, known as breaking, is the only new sport in Paris. It joined the Olympic program after its success at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, where breaking was first showcased.

The Olympic breaking tournament will feature 32 participants—16 men and 16 women. France, Japan, and the United States each send the highest number of athletes, with four competitors per country. Ukraine, the Netherlands, and China each have three participants.

“The pre-selection events over the last two to two and a half years were challenging due to the war,” Kuznietsov explained.

“It can really hit you hard, making you unsure of what you want or what you can do. You lose confidence.

“I don’t know if others understand, but for Ukraine, securing 140 Olympic spots is crazy given the current situation,” he said.

Kuznietsov has been preparing for the Olympics in Poland, where he has lived since 2013. However, many Ukrainian athletes continue to train in their war-torn homeland.

“Part of the sports school was destroyed, but they still practice there,” Kuznietsov shared.

“Imagine practicing and then hearing the alarm. They have to go down to the basement and hide from bombings, interrupting the session. Is that fair? I don’t think so.

“The Olympics are about fair play and fair competition. But I spoke with many athletes in Ukraine about fair practice and preparation. For Ukrainians, it’s hard to prepare mentally and physically right now,” he noted.

Source: Reuters