The experience of topping the podium at the 19th Asian Games has become a powerful motivator for Chinese breakdancer Liu Qingyi to strive for success at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Breakdancing is set to make its debut as an Olympic sport at the 2024 Paris Games, which officially open on Friday, and Liu is tipped to be one of the breakout stars who will make their mark in the French capital.
The 18-year-old Liu made history at the Outbreak 2022 Street Dance Competition in Slovakia by becoming China's first medalist at an international breaking event, and later went on to win the inaugural title in her sport at the 19th Asian Games held last year in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province.
Liu, also known as B-Girl 671, a moniker she choose due to her full name sounding like the pronunciation of those numbers in Chinese, is eager to shine on the Olympic stage.
With a fierce drive to perform at her best, Liu is looking to combine new ideas from her coaches alongside the skills she has already mastered during training, as she looks to deliver at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
"For this period, I have so many things to do, because I have a lot of coaches, so they gave me a lot of advice. So, for me, I need to digest them, then to transfer them to use a way by myself. For now, I just want to use some new things and some old stuff together, then I can find new feelings. I can't only do the new things, because it's very difficult, and I feel maybe not stable. So, for now, [I'll] just try, if I crash, it's okay. But for the Olympics, I think that's the final stage," she said.
Liu automatically secured her spot at the Paris Olympics thanks to her gold medal at the Asian Games, and said she is honored to represent her nation while pledging to do her best as she searches for more glory.
"First, I think I'm lucky. I'm proud I can represent China to compete [in] this competition, so I will do my best, then [if] I get [to be] the champion, I'm really happy. I can go to the Olympics straight [after winning at the Asian Games in Hangzhou], so for the Olympics, I also will do my best," she said.
The Place de la Concorde in central Paris will host the first-ever breaking competition in Olympic history on August 9-10, with 32 dancers from 15 countries and regions competing for men's and women's gold medals.
Young Chinese breakdancer '671' looks to make mark at Paris Olympics
