It has never been a more exciting time in sports! In the 2024 Paris Olympics, several new sports will debut, highlighting the Olympics' dedication to embracing diversity and inclusivity in athletic competition. These additions offer a fresh take on Olympic sports, exciting not only the participants but fans worldwide! The introduction of these new sports underscores the evolving nature of the Olympics, continuously expanding its repertoire to encompass a broader spectrum of athletic talents and disciplines.
“Breaking” Debuts at the 2024 Paris Olympics
What is Breaking?
Breaking, making its Olympic debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, is a dynamic street dance style that originated from hip-hop culture. Athletes, known as B-Boys and B-Girls, showcase their skills through improvised dance moves to the beats of a DJ, incorporating signature moves like windmills and freezes.
Competition Format and Participants
In Paris, breaking will feature one men's and one women's event, each showcasing 16 competitors. These B-Boys and B-Girls will compete in solo battles, aiming to impress judges with their technique, musicality, and creativity. The competition emphasizes individual expression and mastery of foundational breaking elements.
Key Competitors to Watch
Keep an eye on standout breakers like Victor Montalvo from Team USA, who was the first American to qualify for the Olympic breaking competition. Each competitor brings unique styles and signature moves to the floor, promising an electrifying display of athleticism and artistry at the games.
Sport Climbing’s New Format at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Sport climbing, set to captivate audiences at the 2024 Paris Olympics, combines elements of rock climbing across men's and women's categories. Previously, at Tokyo 2020, Janja Garnbret of Slovenia and Alberto Gines Lopez of Spain claimed gold in the women's and men's combined sport climbing events, respectively.
(Image from Paris 2024 Olympics, featuring Janja Garnbret in Tokyo Olympics 2020)
New Events and Changes
In Paris 2024, sport climbing undergoes a format adjustment. Unlike the combined format in Tokyo, where climbers were scored across lead, bouldering, and speed disciplines, the upcoming Olympics will feature two separate events: a combined lead and bouldering competition and a distinct speed climbing event. In the combined lead and bouldering competition, athletes earn points based on various climbing moves. Meanwhile, in the speed competitions, athletes are scored based on time to the top of a 15-meter wall.
Bouldering
Bouldering in sport climbing at the Paris 2024 Olympics challenges athletes to ascend a roughly 15-foot wall, known as a "bouldering problem," in as few attempts as possible within a set time frame. Competitors earn points based on their success in topping boulders, reaching zone holds, and minimizing attempts. Achieving the top of a boulder on the first attempt, known as a "flash," guarantees maximum points for that problem.
Speed Climbing
Speed climbing tests athletes' agility as they race up a 49-foot wall against the clock. Competitors climb in pairs on parallel lanes, aiming to hit the top contact point to stop their time. Results are determined by the fastest times in seeding rounds, with head-to-head competition in elimination rounds.
Lead Climbing
Lead climbing requires athletes to ascend a 49-foot wall in a single attempt within a six-minute time limit. Before climbing, competitors have six minutes to strategize and study the route, marked by quickdraws where climbers must clip their harness ropes. Each route features over 40 holds, with only the top 40 scoring points. Climbers earn maximum points by reaching the highest hold on the route.
Key Athletes to Watch
As sport climbing makes its mark at the 2024 Paris Olympics, several standout athletes are poised to make an impact:
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Janja Garnbret (Slovenia): Reigning gold medalist in women's sport climbing at Tokyo 2020, known for her exceptional performance across multiple disciplines.
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Alberto Gines Lopez (Spain): Men's gold medalist at Tokyo 2020, showcasing speed and precision in climbing competitions.
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Sean McColl (Canada): A key figure in the promotion and development of sport climbing, despite not qualifying for Paris 2024, his insights into the sport remain influential.
Skateboarding Returns to the Olympics
A fan favorite is returning to the Olympics! Making its debut at Tokyo 2020, skateboarding has become a permanent fixture in the Games.
Skateboarding Events and Schedule
In park skating, athletes navigate a course with curves and bowls, aiming for high-speed aerial maneuvers. Key points to note:
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Each skater performs three runs lasting 45 seconds each.
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Judges score based on the height and speed of tricks, with the best score from the three runs counting towards their final score.
Street-skating, on the other hand, takes place on a course that simulates an urban street environment with stairs, handrails, and other urban features. Important details include:
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Athletes perform two 45-second runs and execute five tricks per run.
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Judges assess both the difficulty of the tricks and how well skaters control their boards throughout the runs.
Skateboarding’s street finals are on July 27 and 28, with park finals on August 6 and 7.
Notable Athletes and Teams
Skateboarding's inclusion in the Summer Olympics has drawn top athletes from around the world, with notable competitors including Bryce Wettstein and Nyjah Huston representing Team USA. These skateboarders bring exceptional talent and skill to both the park and street skating disciplines, promising thrilling performances and fierce competition at Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
Though, you should keep an eye out on the Men’s Tokyo 2020 gold medalist, Keegan Palmer, representing Australia and Momiji Nishiya of Japan.
The Return of Surfing at the 2024 Olympics
Surfing the Iconic Teahupo'o Wave
Crowds couldn’t get enough of the Olympic surfing competition in Tokyo’s 2020 Games – so the sport is coming back this summer. As we all know, there is no surfing in the bustling city of Paris, so the surfers are traveling to Tahiti to take on the legendary wave of Teahupo’o. The wave is known as a true test of character, as the heavy swell brings a unique force to each barrel. Simultaneously, this break has a shallow reef, making it extra dangerous for those facing it head on.
Competition Format
In total, 48 surfers (24 men and 24 women) will head off to Tahiti to surf the wave of their lives. This competition will start July 27 and end August 4 — a nine day period, with only four active days of surfing. With conditions varying each day, officials will monitor to ensure the waves are at their best for competition.
The competition has six rounds: three rounds of normal heats, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals. During each heat, surfers will be scored on their best two waves. Each surfer can take as many waves as they can, with the exception of specific surfers having priority waves. To learn more, see the rules on scoring.
Top Competitors to Watch
This year, fans can’t miss out on watching Carissa Moore, the United States Olympic and five time world champion. Moore has announced she is taking a step away from The Games after this summer’s competition, so this is your last chance to tune in! The world is excited to see her come back after winning the Tokyo Olympics short boarding competition in 2020.
Vahine Fierro of France, originally a Tahiti native, will also be competing for the gold. Growing up just 200 kilometers away from the wave, she may have a special instinct the rest of the surfers miss out on. Similarly, don’t miss out on watching John Florence of the United States. Last year he competed at the Tahiti-Pro competition and placed second. He may be coming into the competition with familiarity as well!
(Image from Olympics.com)
The Wrap
The introduction of new sports like breaking, sport climbing, skateboarding, and surfing at the 2024 Paris Olympics highlights the dynamic evolution of the Games. These sports bring fresh excitement, showcasing incredible athleticism, creativity, and resilience.
We encourage you to follow these thrilling events and support the athletes as they push the boundaries and get into their grooves. Good luck to all in Paris 2024!