B-Boy Hiro10 Selected as IOC Athlete Role Model for Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026: "Breaking Transcends Winning or Losing"
The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) and Breaking Division are delighted to announce that Japanese Olympic athlete B-Boy Hiro10 (Hiroto Ono) has been officially selected by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as an Athlete Role Model (ARM) for the upcoming Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Dakar 2026.
Following the initial announcement by the IOC on 16 April 2026, the 21-year-old Breaking star has been added to the prestigious line-up of elite mentors. Hiro10 will join an esteemed group of Olympic champions and medallists in Senegal from 31 October to 13 November 2026, marking a historic milestone as the Olympic movement lands on the African continent for the first time.
Guiding the Next Generation
The Athlete Role Model programme has been a cornerstone of the YOG since the inaugural Singapore 2010 edition. In his role, Hiro10 will be based at the Youth Olympic Village, bridging the gap between grassroots passion and elite performance. He will engage directly with competing B-Boys and B-Girls aged 15 to 17, participating in educational workshops that cover career management, mental preparation, and injury prevention, while supporting athletes from the sidelines and participating in local community outreach.
Renowned globally for his gravity-defying power moves and explosive style, Hiro10’s journey through the Olympic Games Paris 2024 has uniquely positioned him to offer invaluable insights into the psychological and physical demands of competing at the absolute pinnacle of the sport.
Reflecting on this milestone, WDSF President Mr. Shawn Tay stated:
"We are immensely proud to see B-Boy Hiro10 appointed as an Athlete Role Model for Dakar 2026. Hiroto embodies the very soul of Breaking: authenticity, resilience, and global community. His experience on the world’s grandest stage in Paris, combined with his deep respect for the culture, makes him the ideal mentor to guide young athletes through the unique pressures and joys of a Youth Olympic Games."
B-Boy Hiro10 on Mentorship, Resilience, and the True Value of Breaking
The Evolution of an Identity: Roots and Resilience
Hiro10’s trajectory to the summit of international Breaking was far from linear. As a child, he struggled to find a long-term anchor.
"When I was young, I tried different activities but couldn’t stick with any of them," Hiro10 reflects. "I discovered Breaking through my sister’s dance class, and seeing others inspired me to improve. Competing internationally and losing made me want to get stronger, so I’ve kept going ever since. And now, Breaking connects me with people from all over the world. That’s the biggest reason why I keep doing it today."
That passion was supported from day one by a core group, keeping his focus on the love for the dance rather than external expectations. "I think it’s my parents and my younger sister, who have supported me since the beginning, as well as the people I trained with in Breaking. Their support, along with my own passion, has really shaped who I am today. I don’t do it for anyone else in particular, I do it because I genuinely love Breaking. That mindset is what continues to shape me as an athlete."
This steady, organic evolution ultimately guided him to the Olympic stage, a status he views with characteristic humility.
"Honestly, there wasn’t a specific moment or competition. I just found myself competing internationally and eventually qualifying for the Olympics. That’s when I felt that hard work really pays off. Now I do feel I’m at the top level, but it didn’t come from one clear event, it just happened naturally over time. I don’t try to show people that I’m the best. I just turn that into confidence and use it in my mindset when I compete."
The Paris 2024 Crucible: A Metamorphosis of Mindset
Renowned globally for his gravity-defying power moves, Hiro10’s signature style was forged by staying true to his artistic identity. Early in his development, a setback became a turning point thanks to some words from a senior dancer.
"I’ve always loved power moves and focused on them without really thinking when I was younger," he notes. "In one competition where I lost, a senior told me, 'Your power moves are really cool, I love your shape.' That made me realize that what I truly love is expressing my own style through power moves. Since then, I’ve made that my main focus, trained with that mindset, and it became my biggest strength. No matter what anyone says, I’ve stayed true to that style."
No matter what anyone says, I’ve stayed true to that style.
However, transitioning from traditional cyphers to the monumental stage of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 presented an entirely new psychological landscape.
"I used to get very nervous, but living abroad and spending a lot of time with foreign people helped me open up and learn to stay relaxed and enjoy competitions," Hiro10 admits. "I used to focus only on winning, but I realized that mindset wasn’t good for me, I’m here because I love Breaking. The Olympics were different because the pressure was on another level and I couldn’t fully relax. But that experience taught me a lot, and now I can keep a better mindset even in big competitions."
The experience of the Olympic Games in Paris yielded a profound internal transformation in Hiro10, one that shattered his preconceived notions of competitive success.
"One thing I learned from the Olympics is that trying too hard to 'enjoy it' can actually make it harder to enjoy. I was so focused on that mindset that I couldn’t fully express myself. I realized that if I can accept my weaknesses and still enjoy, push myself, and aim to win, that’s when I’m at my strongest. After the Olympics, I felt my performance improving more and more. Looking back, I think I could have achieved a better result if I had that mindset before, but there’s no point in regretting it. I’ve turned it into a lesson, and now I’m continuing to push forward in my Breaking journey."
Crucially, it was the aftermath of the battles at the Place de la Concorde that solidified his new outlook.
"I didn’t get past the Round Robin, but I realized that it’s not just about winning or losing. Even then, many people were moved by my performance and sent me messages. That made me understand that in Breaking, it’s also about how your performance and feelings connect with people, and that has real value."
In Breaking, it’s also about how your performance and feelings connect with people, and that has real value.
A Message for Dakar 2026 and Beyond
It is precisely this hard-won wisdom that Hiro10 is eager to impart to the standard-bearers of the sport in Dakar.
"What I consider most important is sharing the value of Breaking with people all around the world, not just those already involved in the scene. And of course, supporting the next generation through my experience. I want to show what makes Breaking unique and special, and help more people understand its true appeal."
For the young athletes currently preparing for the Games, his journey serves as a powerful reminder to look at the bigger picture.
"I want to share my experience and hope it can motivate young athletes. I used to believe I would never make it to the Olympics, but over time I learned to keep believing while accepting any outcome, and that helped me eventually qualify. Everyone has their own story, and even after qualifying for the Youth Olympics, there are still bigger goals ahead. I want to support them by sharing my journey and encouraging them to keep going. I also want to share that life is not only about Breaking. Breaking definitely enriches your life, but it’s not 100% of who you are in life. Through my own experience, I want to share that message as well."
Breaking definitely enriches your life, but it’s not 100% of who you are in life.
His final piece of advice emphasizes the community and connections that Breaking brings, far beyond the scoreboard.
"I would say don’t focus too much on winning and losing, because you can lose yourself if that becomes the only thing that matters. Of course, winning is important, but it’s not everything. One of the greatest values of Breaking is connecting with people. Even if you don’t speak the same language, Breaking can bring you together and take you to different places and cultures. If you focus only on results, you might lose motivation when you lose, or even when you keep winning. I’ve been through a time when I didn’t enjoy Breaking, but changing my mindset helped me realize there is much more to it than winning. Once I understood that, I started enjoying Breaking much more, and that’s what I want young dancers to realize as well. Always remember why you started and keep Breaking."
Don’t focus too much on winning and losing, because you can lose yourself if that becomes the only thing that matters.
As he prepares for his role during this Youth Olympic Games, Hiro10’s excitement is palpable. Unburdened by the immediate pressures of the scoreboard, he looks forward to experiencing the energy of Dakar through a lens of pure celebration.
"I’m most looking forward to seeing younger athletes enjoy Breaking with so much passion and excitement in their eyes," he concludes. "I’m also excited to share my experience with them. And since I’m not competing this time, I think I can just enjoy without worrying about results, which is something I’m really looking forward to as well."
About the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will take place from 31 October to 13 November 2026, bringing together approximately 2,700 young athletes across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio, and Saly. Following its spectacular reception at Buenos Aires 2018 and its acclaimed showcase at Paris 2024, Breaking returns to the YOG platform to celebrate the intersection of elite sport and global youth culture on African soil.
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