Hiyo and Holy Rain Crowned Gold Medallists Before IOC President Kirsty Coventry as Breaking Concludes at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games

From electric quarter-final battles to the historic Battles for Gold, Day 2 at the Complex Tour de l’Oeuf delivered a masterclass in athletic excellence, cross-cultural friendship, and urban rhythm.

The tension and excitement inside the Tour de l’Oeuf reached its absolute zenith today as the Breaking tournament at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games culminated in breathtaking fashion. Following yesterday’s phenomenal opening rounds, today’s schedule transitioned from high-stakes quarter-finals straight through to the electrifying Battles for Gold, cementing a landmark chapter for Breaking globally.

Continuing yesterday's distinguished presidential presence, today’s finals were graced by IOC President Kirsty Coventry, who cheered on the competitors courtside until the final freeze. Immersed in the vibrant atmosphere, Ms Coventry enjoyed the action alongside WDSF General Secretary Sergey Nifontov and Dakar 2026 Athlete Role Model B-Boy Hiro10.

Reflecting on the unique energy of the venue in an exclusive interview with WDSF Breaking for Gold channels, IOC President Kirsty Coventry described the experience as "really fabulous" and "a wonderful way to wrap up here in Dakar," Ms Coventry pointed to the mutual respect between rivals as the defining feature of the afternoon. "Even though they're competitive, you can see that they really have a lot of admiration and respect for each other," she noted, adding that whenever two breakers embraced or "high vibed" after a round, the roar from the stands captured "the magic of sport bringing people together." For the IOC President, the sight of young dancers thriving off the noise around the field of play summed up the discipline in three simple phrases: "highly energetic, very respectful, and super talented."

Hiyo and Holy Rain Crowned Gold Medallists Before IOC President Kirsty Coventry as Breaking Concludes at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games

B-Boys Podium: Holy Rain Claims Gold as Gera and Saturn Shine

The B-Boy bracket provided an extraordinary showcase of brotherhood and athletic prowess. In the Battle for Bronze, Belarus’s Gera met Poland’s Littleman, with the encounter underscored by mutual respect and a warm embrace that captured the true spirit of the sport.

Reflecting on his historic podium finish, Gera noted:

“It feels really great that my name will be cemented in the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar. These are the first Olympic Games on the African continent, and I am pleasantly surprised that it was right here that I won the bronze. To those just starting out, spend time developing everything, Power Moves, Footwork, and Toprock. Be well-rounded, develop gradually, and everything will be fine.”

The Battle for Gold delivered an electrifying clash between reigning Youth World Champion B-Boy Holy Rain (China) and Chinese Taipei's agile finalist B-Boy Saturn. While Holy Rain spun with high-speed precision, Saturn dazzled the judges with fluid agility. Fresh from his world title victory in Chengdu this past September, Holy Rain reflected on his golden triumph:

“I feel very happy to Battle for my country and winning a gold medal for China. I feel great and especially thrilled. For everyone who dances Breaking, inclusion at Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games would be extremely great. For me, it’s very significant because my life goal is to achieve an Olympic gold medal for China.”

Looking ahead to his upcoming transition to the adult category at December’s WDSF World Championships in Paris, sharing the floor with idols like Hong10, Shigekix, and Issin, he added:

“I hope I will make more progress. I especially look forward to it because those are the B-Boys that you see online, and some of them are my idols."

Silver medallist B-Boy Saturn echoed those forward-looking ambitions:

“The Olympics are a different challenge, much harder than the Youth Olympics. So I also hope I can make it to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games if Breaking happens to be included in the programme.”

B-Girls Podium: Hiyo Soars to Gold as Nikastar and mini ali Make Their Mark

In the B-Girls’ Battle for bronze, Spain’s Mini Ali overcame Morocco’s B-Girl Nawel, celebrating her emotional victory with her family waiting courtside. An ecstatic Mini Ali shared her journey:

“It feels amazing because I come from a small city with almost zero Breaking, so representing my country, my city, and my people is very special. This was one of my dreams and I made it happen. My next goal is just to be proud of myself while dancing. If Breaking goes to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, I’ll be 100% prepared to represent Spain, so we’ll see if we can make it.”

The Battle for Gold brought together Japan’s B-Girl Hiyo and Ukraine’s B-Girl NikaStar in a display of athletic mastery and deep mutual friendship. Set to infectious guitar riffs, Hiyo cemented her status as champion, adding Dakar gold to the Youth World Championship title she secured alongside Holy Rain in Chengdu.

B-Girl Hiyo reflected on her milestone victory:

“First of all, I’m really happy. My goal this time was not to get too caught up in results, but to stay true to myself and enjoy dancing all the way to the end, so I’m glad I was able to do that. I really feel that I am who I am today because so many people have supported me, so I want to dedicate this gold medal to them. If Breaking returns at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, my goal is to compete there representing Japan and win.”

Looking firmly ahead, B-Girl NikaStar encapsulated the collective ambition of the field:

“Now I want to represent Ukraine at Brisbane 2032.”

The community has spoken.

Acknowledgements and Looking Forward to WDSF Breaking World Championships Paris 2026

The electric energy of the venue would not have been possible without the stellar contributions of our official DJs, DJ Plash and DJ Godzi, alongside the expert panel of judges and the tireless work of our MCs, Max Momentum and Maleek.

WDSF extends its deepest gratitude to the International Olympic Committee, the Dakar 2026 Organising Committee, the local Senegalese community, the dedicated volunteers and all the people whose tireless efforts ensured a flawless competition.

Concluding the historic tournament, WDSF President Shawn Tay shared a heartfelt message for all participants:

“I would like to offer my warmest congratulations not only to our six medallists, but to every athlete who represented their country at these Youth Olympic Games. You can be immensely proud. The entire Breaking community, the WDSF family, and the Olympic movement will always be grateful to you for carrying the name of our sport onto the international stage with such profound respect and humility. I wish you all the very best.”

With the curtain falling in Dakar, the global Breaking community now turns its gaze toward Paris, France, where athletes will reunite next December for the WDSF Adult World Breaking Championships, just two years after the discipline’s presence at the 2024 Olympic Games, while keeping their fingers crossed that the magic of Breaking will reunite the family on the Olympic programme in Oceania in 2032…