Competitors show their skills in men's breaking at the Second National Youth Games in Taiyuan, Shanxi province on Monday. The sport has been gaining popularity around the globe since being provisionally approved for inclusion in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. [Photo by Lu Lin for China Daily]

Street sport makes big breakthrough at Youth Games in anticipation of debuting at 2024 Paris Olympics

Although it's more than 30 kilometers from the main stadium of the Second National Youth Games in suburban Taiyuan, Shanxi province, the 2,332-seat venue for Monday's breaking competition was packed to overflowing.

A new experience for most of the crowd, watching the stunning dance moves of the young b-boys and b-girls earned deafening applause - and not just from the kids. Older spectators were equally enthralled, standing and cheering throughout the frenetic performance.

Such a reception would have been unthinkable just a few years ago, when breaking was only embraced by street performers. That changed this summer, when the International Olympic Committee gave breaking instant credibility by provisionally adding it - along with sport climbing, skateboarding and surfing - to the program for the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.

A final decision on their inclusion will be made in December 2020.

For most of the young dancers involved in breaking's debut at the National Youth Games, it's their first time competing at a major event.

"I started to practice breaking when I was four years old, and my father has always been supporting me because he was also a street dancer," said 15-year-old Yu Ziang of Beijing, who won a bronze at the Youth Games.

"I've been a b-boy for 11 years. I have a dancing room in my home, so it's easy to balance school and dancing.

"I practice every day after school and I do not rest on weekends."

Yu said he was thrilled when the Youth Games added the competition, and to prepare for the showdown in Shanxi he practiced constantly during his summer vacation. His mornings are consumed by strength training, while in the afternoons he hones his dancing and spends nights prepping for one-on-one battles.

His passion for breaking, fueled by a dream to one day represent China at the Olympics, keeps Yu motivated.

"I was very surprised when I learned that breaking might be added to the Olympics, and I signed up for the Youth Games right away when I heard the news," said Yu.

"I really hope I can one day compete at the Olympics. I've competed at all levels since I was seven or eight years old, so I know most of the dancers here at the Youth Games.

"There's still a gap between me and the top b-boys in terms of body strength and skills. Also, I need to be more stable psychologically. I'm still a little nervous when I'm surrounded by all these spectators inside the stadium.

"My school teachers know that I'm a b-boy and they support me. Of course, my classmates all know that too... and they think it's pretty cool."