Sunny Choi: Unconventional Journey to Olympic Breakdancing Stardom

Despite a background in gymnastics, Tennessee native Sunny Choi found her passion in breakdancing and is now heading to Paris with Team USA's first Olympic breakdancing team.

Sunny Choi, a 35-year-old native of Tennessee, will soon be making history as a member of Team USA's first Olympic breakdancing team at the Paris 2024 Games. Her journey to the Olympics is a testament to her resilience, adaptability, and unwavering passion for dance.

Growing up, Choi aspired to be a gymnast and even committed to a Division 1 school for the sport. However, knee injuries forced her to abandon her gymnastics dreams. Seeking an alternative form of physical activity at the University of Pennsylvania, Choi stumbled upon breakdancing on campus. The unique combination of physical challenges and creative expression captivated her.

Sunny Choi: Unconventional Journey to Olympic Breakdancing Stardom

"Initially, it was just being upside down and the physical challenges of breaking that I really fell in love with, but what really kept me was the community and the creative aspect," Choi told Fox News Digital. "It challenged me in ways that I wasn’t challenged in the rest of my life."

Without ever intending to pursue the Olympics, Choi continued to breakdance while working a corporate job at Estée Lauder. The allure of the Olympics ultimately proved too strong, and she quit her job to focus solely on dance.

Sunny Choi: Unconventional Journey to Olympic Breakdancing Stardom

"I was working a corporate job at Estée Lauder and still practicing four to six days a week. I was breaking on the side of working corporate until I decided to really make the jump, really take the leap and go for the Olympics. And at that point, I quit my job," Choi explained.

Breakdancing's inclusion in the Olympics marked a significant shift in the perception of the dance form. Choi initially believed that breaking's raw and energetic style did not align with the refined image of the Olympics. However, the announcement of its inclusion inspired her to take her dance to the next level.

Sunny Choi: Unconventional Journey to Olympic Breakdancing Stardom

"It’s not that it doesn’t fit in, but it’s kind of the rawness of breaking didn’t match the image in my head of what the Olympics was, which is like very elegant and refined," Choi said. "You think of things like gymnastics and track and breaking has this kind of street energy that you don’t really have in the Olympics."

In the lead-up to the Olympics, Choi is experiencing a range of emotions, primarily anxiety. She is eager to represent her country and showcase her skills on the world stage, but she is also aware of the pressure and expectations.

"I’m really excited that breaking is going to be included in the Olympics for the first time, and I’m really excited for the culture and the community and the added exposure and, hopefully, kind of the boom in popularity for breaking post-Games," Choi said. "And so, that’s going to be great. But like for me, not yet."

Choi's Olympic journey is a reminder that dreams can take unexpected turns. Her story serves as an inspiration to young dancers and athletes pursuing their passions, regardless of their background or perceived limitations.