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As a little girl, donning a tutu to practice her cartwheels, Sunny Choi dreamed of one day becoming an Olympic gymnast. But those dreams were put on hold after a knee injury in high school. Decades later, Choi finds herself on the Olympic stage – not as a gymnast, but as a breaker. She is representing the United States in the historic debut of breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Start of Choi’s Breaking Journey
Sunny’s path to the Olympics has been anything but conventional. After her injury forced her to retire from gymnastics, she shifted her focus to academics, channeling her drive into excelling in school. She was accepted into the prestigious Wharton School at University of Pennsylvania. Post-graduation, Sunny embarked on a successful career, rising in the ranks at the popular skincare brand, Estee Lauder.
But despite her professional and academic achievements, Sunny felt a lingering void. The joy and passion she once found in gymnastics seemed absent from her life. It wasn’t until she stumbled upon a student dance group hosting a breaking performance in college that she rediscovered that spark. Intrigued by the energy and creativity of breaking, she joined the group and soon found herself deeply immersed in the dance form.
“Breaking is all about having style and showcasing who you are,” Choi explained in an interview. “A lot of my journey through breaking has been figuring out who I am, being confident in my own skin.”
The Road to Paris
Choi’s decision to pursue breaking more seriously came after a pivotal moment of self reflection. “Hey, why don’t you try something different? Why don’t you do something that makes you happy?” she asked herself. With this newfound clarity, Choi began dedicating more time to breaking. Her hard work paid off, and she became the first American woman to qualify for breaking at the 2024 Olympics.
“Breaking is all about having style and showcasing who you are. A lot of my journey through breaking has been figuring out who I am, being confident in my own skin.”
For Choi, these Olympic Games represent a second chance at fulfilling a childhood dream. “I, my whole life, hadn’t allowed myself to dream, because I was scared of failing,” reflected Choi. “I have so much gratitude and pride to be able to represent for our community,” she added, expressing her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest stage.
Competing in the Olympics: A Dream Realized
On August 9th, years after giving up on her childhood dream, Choi sported a signature breaking outfit and wide smile. She bounced happily from side to side and waved at the roaring crowd in the Place de la Concorde.
The women’s breaking event began with a grueling round-robin tournament, where four groups of four b-girls each competed for a spot in the quarterfinals. Despite her best efforts and the creativity and artistry she brought to the stage, Choi, along with fellow American Logan Edra, did not advance beyond the initial rounds.
While she didn’t secure a medal, Choi’s presence on the Olympic stage was a victory in itself – a demonstration of her resilience, passion, and bravery to pursue her dreams and go against the predetermined path to success. For Choi, the 2024 Olympics may not have ended with a medal, but her journey has left a mark on the breaking community and beyond.
“It’s about sharing the moment with everyone,” Choi said. “It’s not just about any one of us that day.” Choi and all of the other b-girls in Paris deserve a round of applause for the VISibility that they are bringing to breaking.
