Meet The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games Athletes: B-Girl NikaStar: Patience, Legacy, and Determination
From her early steps in Lviv at eight years old to securing a place among the world’s elite, 15-year-old Nikol Dzhuryk, known on the global stage as B-Girl NikaStar, is carving out a unique space in international Breaking.
Currently ranked No. 10 in the WDSF World Youth Ranking, the Ukrainian athlete is set to represent her nation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, bringing a refined combination of technical mastery, emotional maturity, and unshakable determination to the floor.
A Rich Foundation of Mentorship
Nikol’s journey began in 2018 in Lviv, where she was introduced to Breaking by her first coach, B-Boy Parashut. What started as a childhood fascination with challenging movement and musical creativity quickly evolved into a dedicated athletic pursuit.
Now based in Vinnytsia, NikaStar’s development has been shaped by a rich network of mentors within Ukraine’s renowned Breaking scene. Guided by influential figures including B-Boys Gimnast, Bulka, Intact, Kuzya, Lussy Sky, and EgorDach, alongside constant support from her family, she has built a versatile movement vocabulary rooted in strength and character.
“For me, being Ukrainian means being strong, creative, and not giving up. I want to bring that energy into my Breaking while developing my own style,” NikaStar reflects.
Turning Setbacks into Milestones
Competitive sport at the highest level inevitably presents emotional and physical tests. For NikaStar, learning to navigate disappointing Battle results transformed her perspective on long-term athletic growth. Rather than letting single outcomes dictate her trajectory, she views every round as a masterclass in patience and self-discovery.
“Breaking has taught me to be patient with myself. Some moves take a long time to learn, and progress doesn’t happen every day. I’ve learned to keep trying, even when something feels difficult, that helps me outside of Breaking too,” she explains.
That patience has paid off on the biggest international stages. NikaStar’s steady rise is reflected in her performance at the WDSF World Championships Youth, where she made a remarkable leap from her debut in Porto 2025 to securing an impressive 7th-place finish at this year’s World Championships in Chengdu.
Alongside holding a firm top-ten spot in the WDSF World Youth Ranking, NikaStar also joined elite breakers in Brisbane, Australia, for the WDSF World Breaking DanceSport Festival, performing in support of the Breaking for Brisbane 2032 campaign to advocate for Breaking’s Olympic future.
A Message of Connection in Dakar
As she prepares for next week’s historic competition in Dakar, B-Girl NikaStar looks forward to embracing the Youth Olympic experience in its entirety, connecting with international peers, absorbing new artistic inspiration, and sharing her passion with the global community.
“Being in Dakar and representing Ukraine means a lot to me. I want to enjoy this experience, show my Breaking, and come home with new inspiration.” – B-Girl NikaStar.
Follow B-Girl NikaStar’s Olympic Journey on social media: @bgirl_nika_star
Photos courtesy of Nikol Dzhuryk.
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