TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's first athlete to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Breaking category, Sun Chen (孫振), better known as "B-boy Quake," returned home on Wednesday (June 26). He expressed a sense of fulfillment and gratitude for the support he received from the street dance and breaking communities.
Sun, Taiwan's "Top B-boy," secured his Olympic ticket on June 23 at the Olympic Qualifier Series in Budapest, ranking 10th overall. This accomplishment makes him the first Taiwanese athlete to qualify for the Olympics in Breaking. Sun, born on Sept. 21, 1999 — the same day Taiwan was hit by the earthquake known as 921, hence the nickname 'Quake' — overcame self-doubt and injury to reach his long-term goal.
Sun said he felt a sense of accomplishment after qualifying for the Olympics. He mentioned times when he questioned his abilities and even suffered an ankle injury during training, but he overcame all these challenges.
Sun was deeply moved by the unanimous support from the street dance and breaking communities. "Their unity and trust touched me deeply," said Sun. He admitted to shortcomings in his grasp of music and interpretation of lyrics and plans to use the month before the competition to improve his technique and address these issues.
Sun plans to return to the national training center for ankle treatment and training after qualifying for the Olympics. He also plans to arrive in Paris in late July for on-site training to overcome jet lag, acclimate to the weather and food, and prepare for the competition.
Sun finds the combination of breaking with sports fascinating. He hopes the audience will not only applaud but also cheer along and feel the charm of breaking during his competition.