Meet The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Athletes: B-Boy David On Building for the Next Generation

BECOMING THE FIRST B-BOY IN HIS COUNTRY TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES, THE ZWOLLE-BORN ATHLETE SHARES ABOUT HIS JOURNEY LEADING TO DAKAR

Meet The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Athletes: B-Boy David, On Making History and Building for the Next Generation

From early steps in the cypher to representing the Netherlands on the Youth Olympic stage, 17-year-old David Razmik Kitoyan, known across the international Breaking scene as B-Boy David, is preparing to take the stage in Dakar, aiming for gold as the second Dutch breaker overall to qualify for a Youth Olympic Games.

Introduced to Breaking at the age of 4, the culture has remained a central pillar of his life ever since. The Zwolle-born Breaker, who also has Armenian roots, carries an ambition that goes beyond titles, seeking to inspire young dancers and unite people through his art.

“My goal is to use Breaking to reach young people in Zwolle and help the scene grow”, B-Boy David explains.

The Sacrifice of Passion

Reflecting on the turning points of his competitive career, David recognizes that every WDSF Battle has tested him: “There are many talented Breakers whom I see as a challenge”, he adds.

Yet there are other obstacles that remain outside the cypher. Competing internationally without major sponsorship brings significant logistical and financial hurdles: these are realities that athletes often face.

“Traveling is difficult, it requires financial resources, which is tough without a sponsor”, David says.

Navigating these challenges deepened his self-belief. His breakthrough came at the decisive WDSF World Breaking DanceSport Festival held past January in Brisbane, Australia, a landmark event organized under the Breaking for Brisbane 2032 campaign aimed at boosting the Olympic movement and advocating for Breaking’s return to the 2032 Olympic Games programme. Competing against elite breakers, David placed among the top three Europeans, proving his ability to overcome adversity and believe in his dreams.

Ultimately, his journey in Breaking has provided David with numerous life lessons, proving that athletic greatness is not only about self-confidence but also deep humility. B-Boy David talks about these life lessons, revealing the mindset that brought him from Zwolle to the world’s most important Breaking stage:

“Always be yourself, keep pushing forward, never give up, don’t underestimate yourself, and show respect for others”, B-Boy David adds.

Meet The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Athletes: B-Boy David, On Making History and Building for the Next Generation

Beyond The Olympics

Looking at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games, B-Boy David’s ambitions focus on strengthening the Breaking community in Zwolle, his hometown. Rather than just sharing knowledge, his goal is to establish a permanent space where dancers can thrive, share Breaking as a culture, and experience a real community.

“I’m working toward this by hosting many workshops and teaching Breaking classes, with the ultimate aim of opening my own dance school,” David says.

On top of this, David shares words of deep gratitude to his family and mother, as his major anchors and biggest supporters: “My mother and my family, including my uncles, grandparents, and cousins, have supported me since day one”, David states.

He also acknowledges the coaching and people that helped him steer his road to Dakar: “I’d like to give a shout-out to Menno, who will be guiding and coaching me during the Youth Olympics. Also, a shout-out to Paul and Joris from the WDSF and TeamNL, who are helping me through this journey”, he says.

As the first B-Boy to represent the Netherlands on the Youth Olympic stage, David is ready to continue his legacy through passion and dedication.

“I continue to train extremely hard to reach my goals and to strive for new objectives in life”. – B-Boy David.