Dutch B-Boy Lee punches ticket to Paris after perfect OQS outing to win second Breaking title

BUDAPEST – B-Boy Lee arrived at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest with a single-minded focus: he was hungry for another win and desperate to show his success at the Shanghai stop was no fluke.

Consider it mission accomplished. The Dutchman (pictured on left above) completed his OQS double on Sunday by besting Kazakhstan’s B-Boy Amir 2-1 in the final, once again topping the 40-strong breaking field.

But as B-Boy Lee held a hefty OQS Budapest trophy in his hands, what he prised more was a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games now firmly in his pocket.

B-Boy Amir, meanwhile, can take heart in also earning a place at the Games, especially given how his late surge took him from 15th on the global standings to an eventual sixth.

He said: “It’s special, of course. It’s the first time breaking will be at the Games. It’s interesting, the organisation and everything. For me, the main goal of competition, when I participate, is to show art on this big sport platform.”

B-Girl Ami gets the better of teammate in repeat of Shanghai final

In the B-Girls competition, the Budapest podium was filled by the same trio who stood tallest at OQS Shanghai – with one small but notable change.

B-Girl Ami edged out B-Girl Ayumi this time, beating her teammate 2-1 in the final to take the title.

While she was happy about her win, B-Girl Ami came off the stage in tears following the semifinal battle. The result meant teammate B-Girl Riko (who finished third in Budapest) does not get a spot for Paris. Each National Olympic Committee can send a maximum of two athletes in each event.

She said: “I was happy, of course. But on the other hand, Riko also worked so hard. We’re Japanese, that’s why only two can go. But if Riko isn’t Japanese, she would also go to the Olympics. I was happy, but also a little bit upset about the system.

“I just tried to focus on the final. Usually, if I get to the final, I just enjoy the final. But today, my motivation was to win… I was like, OK, this is the last qualification, so I just want to win. That was the difference.”

Despite finishing second best, qualifying for Paris 2024 still made for a timely birthday gift for B-Girl Ayumi, who turned 41 on Saturday.

The veteran breaker, the oldest competitor in the field, said: “Everybody asked me about Paris, but I only think about OQS. Now, it’s time to think about Paris for myself. I don’t know what it will be like, but I’m excited.”

OIS mc/wc/rm