Brisbane Celebrates the Future of Breaking as Youth Categories Take Centre Stage
Brisbane, Australia – 18 January 2026. Following the epic displays of the first at the Brisbane World Breaking DanceSport Festival, featuring the WDSF Breaking for Gold World Series Adult categories and the electrifying Team 3 vs 3 Mixed battles, the historic Brisbane City Hall once again opened its doors to the global Breaking community for the second and final day of competition.
On Sunday, the spotlight shifted decisively toward the future of the discipline, as the world’s most promising young athletes took to the floor in the Youth categories. With crucial WDSF ranking points on the line, points that will play a decisive role in qualification pathways toward the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026, the atmosphere was charged with ambition, intensity, and unmistakable emotion.
Throughout the day, the audience witnessed not only outstanding athletic performances, but also the hunger, discipline, and creative vision that define Breaking’s next generation. Each battle unfolded as a statement of intent, reinforcing the depth of talent emerging across continents.
WDSF BfG World Series Breaking 1 vs 1 B-Girls Youth: Emotion, Power and a Standing Ovation
In the Battle for Bronze, Hiyo overcame 7G in a high-energy confrontation, securing his place on the podium through sharp transitions and confident floor control. This result builds on Hiyo’s growing international profile, following strong appearances across Youth World Series events and consistent podium contention in Continental competitions, confirming his steady progression among the elite of his age group.
The final Battle for Gold brought together Royal and Hio in a clash that encapsulated the essence of youth Breaking at its highest level. Royal emerged victorious, claiming the top spot on the podium after a commanding performance that blended creativity, technical clarity, and competitive presence. In Brisbane, Royal once again made history, fulfilling the promise he had set earlier in the Festival by completing an extraordinary triple-gold achievement. After already securing gold in the Adult and Teams 3 vs 3 Mixed categories the previous day, his victory in the Youth division confirmed a remarkable feat, highlighting his exceptional versatility and competitive maturity. Already recognised for his success across multiple Youth World Series stops and podium finishes at major international youth events, Royal reaffirmed why he is considered one of the most complete young B-Girls on the international circuit.
Hio secured silver after an impressive run through the bracket, showcasing power, control, and compositional awareness. His result in Brisbane adds to an already notable résumé that includes deep runs in World Championships youth divisions and strong results across Asia-Pacific competitions, underlining his consistency on the global stage.
Podium 1 vs 1 B-Girls Youth
You can check all the results here.
WDSF BfG World Series Breaking 1 vs 1 B-Boys Youth: Emotion, Power and a Standing Ovation
The B-Boys Youth competition proved to be one of the emotional highlights of the entire Festival. From the opening rounds to the final battle, the category delivered performances filled with intensity, individuality, and artistic expression, captivating the Brisbane audience while confirming the exceptional competitive level of this generation.
In the battle for bronze, Purple One defeated B-Boy Zhigao in a tightly contested exchange, earning his place on the podium through precision, musical awareness, and tactical confidence. This result builds on an already solid international résumé, following his bronze medal at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Porto, a top-eight finish at the Youth Continental Championships in Shanghai, and previous World Championships appearances, including Wuxi 2024, highlighting his steady progression on the global stage.
The final battle for gold saw Holy Rain take to the floor in a performance that brought the entire auditorium to its feet. His presence, emotional depth, and explosive execution transformed the final into a moment of pure connection between athlete and audience. Holy Rain arrived in Brisbane as the reigning Youth World Champion, following his gold medal at the 2025 World Championships in Porto, complemented by strong results at the Continental Championships in Shanghai and a top-ten finish at the 2024 World Championships in Wuxi, confirming his status as one of the category’s leading figures.
Ultimately, the gold went to Lil Kong, whose focus and consistency throughout the day set him apart. Already recognised as one of the standout youth talents globally, Lil Kong added the Brisbane title to an impressive record that includes a silver medal at the 2025 Youth Continental Championships in Shanghai and a top-12 finish at the 2025 Youth World Championships in Porto. Following the final, one of the Japan’s coach team highlighted his exceptional mindset, stating that Lil Kong is “very focused on bringing back Breaking to the Olympic Games,” a quality clearly reflected in his composed and authoritative performance in Brisbane.
Podium 1 vs 1 B-Boys Youth
You can check all the results here.
A Closing Statement for the Future of Breaking
As the final battles concluded, WDSF President Shawn Tay addressed the audience, athletes, and officials, reinforcing the importance of platforms as the Brisbane World Breaking DanceSport Festival in shaping the future of the sport. He noted that the commitment shown by young athletes, organisers, and supporters alike continues to strengthen Breaking’s global pathway and its long-term vision.
WDSF extends its sincere thanks to DanceSport Australia for their outstanding organisational support, as well as to SportsXpert and GreenPanda, valued partners of WDSF and Breaking, whose continued collaboration plays a vital role in the development and sustainability of the sport.
With two days of world-class competition now complete, Brisbane closes its chapter of the inaugural World Breaking DanceSport Festival having firmly established itself as a city that embraces Breaking’s culture, athletic excellence, and future ambitions. The performances witnessed, particularly from the Youth categories, serve as a powerful reminder that the next generation is ready to carry Breaking forward on the world stage.
Photos by Janna Imperial.
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