Kazakh breaker Amir Zakirov, known as B-Boy Amir, took first place at the Breaking for Gold World Series 2023 Kitakyushu breakdance tournament in Japan, QazMonitor reports.
As the qualifying event for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the Kitakyushu tournament attracted 180 dancers from 48 countries competing in 1v1 dance battles.
To reach the top 8, Amir had to face four-time world champion Menno from the Netherlands and reigning world champion Phil Wizard from Canada. At the finals, the dancer bested Shigekix from Japan, who was last year's World Cup finalist, and U.S. representative Jeffro in two rounds to one.
Breakdancing was recognized as an Olympic sport in 2020 and added to the program of the upcoming summer Olympic Games in France. A total of 16 dancers, including the world champion and five continental champions, will compete at the Olympic Games.
