Winning the first Pan American Games gold medal awarded in men害羞草研究所檚 breaking meant a lot to Philip Kim, but the Olympic berth he also gained meant even more.

The 26-year-old from Vancouver, known as B-Boy Phil Wizard in break dancing circles, defeated Jeff (B-Boy Jeffro) Louis of the United States 3-0 in Saturday害羞草研究所檚 final men害羞草研究所檚 battle.

害羞草研究所淗onestly, the Olympic place means more to me. I want to be there. I want to be part of history,害羞草研究所� Kim said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 relieved more than anything.

害羞草研究所淚n the last year I can say it害羞草研究所檚 been a roller-coaster ride, but I害羞草研究所檝e grown so much as a person as well as an artist and an athlete because of the process we害羞草研究所檝e had to go through. It害羞草研究所檚 pushed me in ways that I害羞草研究所檝e never been pushed before and I害羞草研究所檓 very grateful for that.害羞草研究所�

Breaking made its Pan Am Games debut in Santiago, Chile. The sport will also be an Olympic event for the first time in Paris next year, but isn害羞草研究所檛 on the program for Los Angeles in 2028.

Kim won the 2022 men害羞草研究所檚 world breaking championship. He placed second this year when he was beaten in the final battle by Victor Montalvo of the United States for both the world title and Olympic qualification.

Kim said he just needed to make Saturday害羞草研究所檚 final in Santiago to get a Paris berth because two U.S. men couldn害羞草研究所檛 get direct Olympic quotas in breaking.

害羞草研究所淕oing into the final, I害羞草研究所檇 already secured my spot, but it honestly gave me more of a push because it would have been bittersweet to secure my spot to Paris and then lose the battle,害羞草研究所� Kim said.

Breakers are scored on musicality, vocabulary, originality, technique and execution.

Athletes don害羞草研究所檛 know in advance the music they will perform to, but must express the music in their moves when they hear it through footwork, freezes, transitions, power moves, tricks and flips.

Before travelling to Chile, Kim finished second to South Korea害羞草研究所檚 Kim Hong-Yul (Hong 10) at Red Bull害羞草研究所檚 world final at Roland-Garros in Paris.

Kim didn害羞草研究所檛 did lose a battle in Santiago en route to the title, however.

Dressed in white with a red tuque on his head, Kim earned a score of 8-1 from the judges on his first throw down and scored 6-3, 6-3 in the next two against Louis on Saturday.

害羞草研究所淭he way I approach breaking has always been originality and creativity first because that害羞草研究所檚 just what I enjoy doing,害羞草研究所� Kim said. 害羞草研究所淚 like to create new movement. I like to showcase something new and I think I presented that today as well.

害羞草研究所淥f course I want to win, but first and foremost, it害羞草研究所檚 also about showing breaking to the world. That害羞草研究所檚 why I want to go to the Olympics. I want more kids to be involved, more people to see this because this is what I spent my life doing.害羞草研究所�

The nine international judges, who go by single names such as Katsu, Bojin, Kid Glyde and Kujo, warmed up the crowd with their own breaking session before their introductions.

The packed Chimkowe Cultural Center was bedlam after the men害羞草研究所檚 bronze-medal battle won by Chile害羞草研究所檚 Matias (B-Boy Matita) Martinez.

Breaking in an international multi-sport Games for the first time felt novel to Kim.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 definitely a different experience being in a village surrounded by high-performing people, like it was a lot of fun for me,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淵ou get to meet a lot of different athletes, you get to see people training a little bit, you get to see what people害羞草研究所檚 daily routines are, you get to connect with different people.害羞草研究所�

Kim injured his neck warming up for Friday害羞草研究所檚 preliminary round and said he barely slept the night before Saturday害羞草研究所檚 elimination battles.

害羞草研究所淩ight away Team Canada gave me a therapist,害羞草研究所� Kim said. 害羞草研究所�(They) helped me through yesterday and today.害羞草研究所�

Toronto害羞草研究所檚 Tiffany (B-Girl Tiff) Leung lost her bronze-medal battle 3-0 to Vicki (B-Girl La Vix) Chang of the United States.

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