Meet the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Athletes: Denmark’s B-Boy Ill Will

For 16-year-old Hans William Juel, known in the global cypher as B-Boy Ill Will, the journey to the Youth Olympic Games has been a lesson in patience. There were no sudden TV announcements or grand celebrations overnight. Instead, his summer in Denmark was spent in a quiet state of anticipation, letting the reality of his qualification sink in piece by piece while awaiting final confirmation.

When the news was officially delivered just two weeks ago, designating him as Denmark’s representative among the 12 allocated B-Boys for Dakar 2026, it marked the start of an extraordinary chapter, not only in his sporting career, but in his personal life.

"I was slowly realizing it through the summer when I got notified that it would likely be me who would get the spot for Denmark," Ill recalls. "Only two weeks ago it got finally confirmed. It is a great feeling to be among the 12 qualified B-Boys. I’m looking forward so much to experiencing this huge event and to visiting Africa for the first time in my life."

The Pre-Battle Ritual: Playlists, Foundations, and a Cold Cola

Behind the effortless flow that Ill Will displays on the floor lies a finely tuned pre-battle routine. When high-stakes competitions loom, he builds a personal atmosphere that allows him to lock in mentally and physically before stepping into the spotlight.

It all begins with sound. On Battle days, he surrounds himself with a curated playlist, a seamless combination of heavy Breaking beats and the personal tracks he genuinely loves listening to. Physically, his warm-up follows a natural progression rooted in Breaking fundamentals:

"I normally warm up with top-rock until I feel my body," he explains. "Then I move into stretching and joint mobilisation, before starting footwork and power moves."

Then comes the final, unmistakably human touch to his preparation, a simple ritual that grounds him right before the music drops: drinking a cold cola before stepping out to Battle.

This balance reflects the very essence of his movement. When asked to capture his signature style in three words, Ill Will chooses: Musical, Spontaneous, and Dynamic.

Dance First: Preserving the Soul of Breaking

As Breaking continues its evolution on the international Olympic stage, Ill Will is acutely aware of the delicate balance between high-level athleticism and artistic integrity. While the crowd often marvels at explosive freezes and complex power moves, his personal goal goes far beyond executing difficult tricks for scorecards.

For the Danish B-Boy, the Olympic stage is an opportunity to remind the world why Breaking captivated people in the first place.

"I hope that my performances remind people that Breaking is an art of DanceSport, and not just skillful tricks, movements and acrobatics," he states.

It is a message that resonates deeply with the next generation of dancers who look up to him. Having spent years refining his own foundational movement and working through demanding technical sets, his advice to young breakers starting their own journey is simple, humble, and grounded in daily practice: