Sunny Choi: Breaking Barriers and Representing Team USA at the Olympics

Sunny Choi, a 35-year-old breaking athlete from Tennessee, will make history as one of the first Americans to represent Team USA in breaking at the 2024 Olympics. Despite initial reservations about representing her country, Choi has embraced the opportunity to unite people through sports.

Sunny Choi's journey to the Olympics has been an unexpected one. Growing up, the Tennessee native wasn't particularly patriotic and struggled with the idea of representing the United States on the global stage.

"I never really liked wearing USA things or I wasn't ever very patriotic," Choi admitted. "So, initially it was a little challenging for me."

Sunny Choi: Breaking Barriers and Representing Team USA at the Olympics

However, as she immersed herself in breaking and witnessed its ability to connect people from all walks of life, Choi's perspective began to shift.

"Throughout this process, I got to see something really special that sports does that not many other things do in life and it's that it unites us in a way that almost nothing else does," she explained. "To see people from all different places all coming together for one cause and to be able to connect and cheer for your favorite people and root for all the other countries. It was just such a beautiful experience to be able to connect in that way that I realized this is what representing Team USA is about. Like, this is what our nation is."

Sunny Choi: Breaking Barriers and Representing Team USA at the Olympics

As Choi prepares for her Olympic debut, she is filled with both excitement and nerves.

"Today going in, I'm super proud to be able to represent Team USA and really proud to be kind of in this movement that really brings people together in a very special way," she said.

Sunny Choi: Breaking Barriers and Representing Team USA at the Olympics

Choi's breaking journey began at the age of 15 when she stumbled upon a video of a local dance crew. Intrigued, she attended their next practice and was immediately hooked.

Over the years, Choi has honed her skills and developed a unique style that combines power, precision, and creativity. She has won numerous competitions, including a silver medal at the 2022 World Games and a gold medal at the Pan American Games last year.

Choi's success has not come without challenges. Breaking is a physically demanding sport that requires immense strength, flexibility, and coordination. Choi has sustained countless injuries throughout her career, but she has always persevered.

"It's a very difficult sport, but it's also very rewarding," she said. "It's a challenge, but it's a challenge that I'm willing to take on."

As breaking makes its Olympic debut, Choi is eager to share her passion for the sport with the world. She believes that breaking has the potential to bridge cultural divides and inspire people from all walks of life.

"I hope that breaking can be a bridge between different cultures and different people," she said. "I hope that it can show people that we're all more similar than we are different."

Choi knows that the road to Olympic gold will be a difficult one, but she is determined to give it her all.

"I'm going to go out there and give it my all," she said. "I'm not going to leave anything on the dance floor."