Winning the first Pan American Games gold medal awarded in men91裸聊视频檚 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 Saturday91裸聊视频檚 final men91裸聊视频檚 battle.

91裸聊视频淗onestly, the Olympic place means more to me. I want to be there. I want to be part of history,91裸聊视频� Kim said. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 relieved more than anything.

91裸聊视频淚n the last year I can say it91裸聊视频檚 been a roller-coaster ride, but I91裸聊视频檝e grown so much as a person as well as an artist and an athlete because of the process we91裸聊视频檝e had to go through. It91裸聊视频檚 pushed me in ways that I91裸聊视频檝e never been pushed before and I91裸聊视频檓 very grateful for that.91裸聊视频�

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 isn91裸聊视频檛 on the program for Los Angeles in 2028.

Kim won the 2022 men91裸聊视频檚 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 Saturday91裸聊视频檚 final in Santiago to get a Paris berth because two U.S. men couldn91裸聊视频檛 get direct Olympic quotas in breaking.

91裸聊视频淕oing into the final, I91裸聊视频檇 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,91裸聊视频� Kim said.

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

Athletes don91裸聊视频檛 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 Korea91裸聊视频檚 Kim Hong-Yul (Hong 10) at Red Bull91裸聊视频檚 world final at Roland-Garros in Paris.

Kim didn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淭he way I approach breaking has always been originality and creativity first because that91裸聊视频檚 just what I enjoy doing,91裸聊视频� Kim said. 91裸聊视频淚 like to create new movement. I like to showcase something new and I think I presented that today as well.

91裸聊视频淥f course I want to win, but first and foremost, it91裸聊视频檚 also about showing breaking to the world. That91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�

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 men91裸聊视频檚 bronze-medal battle won by Chile91裸聊视频檚 Matias (B-Boy Matita) Martinez.

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

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 definitely a different experience being in a village surrounded by high-performing people, like it was a lot of fun for me,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淵ou get to meet a lot of different athletes, you get to see people training a little bit, you get to see what people91裸聊视频檚 daily routines are, you get to connect with different people.91裸聊视频�

Kim injured his neck warming up for Friday91裸聊视频檚 preliminary round and said he barely slept the night before Saturday91裸聊视频檚 elimination battles.

91裸聊视频淩ight away Team Canada gave me a therapist,91裸聊视频� Kim said. 91裸聊视频�(They) helped me through yesterday and today.91裸聊视频�

Toronto91裸聊视频檚 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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