The real reason breakdancing won’t be at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics

Gone but not forgotten – and it's not Raygun’s fault. So, why won't breakdancing feature in LA? And what new sports will?

By Tyler Dane Wingco

Published: Aug 14, 2024

Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn performs a move during the Paris Olympics breakdancing | GETTY

DON’T BLAME Raygun. Since her viral performance during breaking’s debut appearance on the Paris Olympics program, the sport won’t be returning to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Though it’s easy to point fingers at the cause of the sport’s short life at the Games – and entertaining to think one breaker could be responsible for its downfall – for a sport to be subtracted from the Olympics, a very rigorous and formal a process is involved. Over the course of the modern Olympics’ history, there has been a list of ‘core’ sports that are contested every four years, therefore risking removal. While swimming, athletics and gymnastics have been the staples, backed by an international federation recognised by the International Olympics Committee, sports with less history have a harder time remaining on the bill.

In Paris, there were 28 core sports, with the addition of skateboarding, sport climbing, surfing and, of course, breaking. Local organisers of each Olympics also play a role in suggesting up to five additional ‘non-traditional’ sports that reflect the local flavour (why was Course des Cafés not included?), or to recognise a sport rising in popularity. The IOC has the last call on the ever evolving list of sports seen at every Games.

So, why isn’t breaking being renewed for a second hurrah? Scroll on for the real reason, as well as the six sports joining the program in 2028.

Read more of Esquire’s coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics:

All the Australian Olympic medals won at Paris 2024

Silver linings? The complicated psychology of achievement at Paris 2024

The Olympic Games and the power of an athlete’s ‘aura’

Why will breaking not be in the LA Olympics?

Contrary to what the internet will lead you to believe, it wasn’t Raygun who stole breaking’s chances of making it to LA. In fact, the decision to not have breaking in LA was made by the local organisers years ago. “It’s up to each local organising committee to determine which [additional] sports to put forward that fit with their vision of the Games,” said IOC Sports Director Kit McConnell of the decision last year.

Even though breaking originated in the United States (created in the 1970s by African American and Puerto Rican kids in the Bronx, a borough of New York City), Paris will be its first and only appearance for now. “Obviously breaking fit very clearly with Paris’ vision of a very youth-focused urban engagement.” LA, it seems, wants to establish its own Olympics identity. And for whatever reason, breaking doesn’t fit the bill.

As of writing, breaking is the only confirmed sport to not make its return in 2028.

What new sports will be at the LA Olympics?

Team USA vs. Japan at the Tokyo Olympics | GETTY

Baseball and softball

Rejoining the program in LA on a temporary basis, baseball and softball have made sporadic appearances at the Olympics throughout the years.

It was at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics when baseball joined the official Olympics roster, until it and softball were voted out in 2005 by the IOC – one of the reasons being that baseball and softball felt too American.

Baseball re-emerged at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, being the most popular sport in Japan. Its presence in the country dates back to 1872 during the Meiji-era, introduced by an American English teacher in a school in Tokyo. Given its American roots, it also makes sense that it would appear at LA.

Esquire cover star alum Pat Cummins | INSTAGRAM @patcummins30

Cricket

What’s a very Eurocentric sport doing on the roster of an American Olympics? Cricket’s various governing bodies have strongly opposed the sport’s presence in the Olympics, which is why its only appearance was back in the 1900 Paris Games where only Team Britain and France competed (mind you, the French team were mostly composed of Poms).

But the IOC conceded in involving cricket in LA on a temporary basis, citing its popularity in countries like Australia and India.

Flag Football

Having a sport that’s too country-specific, like baseball, at an international event, is why it was left out in the first place. The same goes for American football, with all the pads and tackling, which would feel out of place on the global stage, and the USA would be at an advantage in terms of numbers.

A version of the sport making its debut in LA will be flag football, where instead of full-on contact, players attempt to remove flags from each other’s ballcarriers. The decision for this iteration came when the IOC cited there being “approximately 20 million flag football players across over 100 countries.”

Lacrosse

Lacrosse has only made a handful of appearances at the modern Olympics, the last being at the 1948 London Games, on a demonstration basis.

LA 2028 will use the lacrosse sixes format for the men’s and women’s teams, a scaled down version on a smaller field as opposed to having 10 players.

Squash

Popular in other international sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and Pan American Games, squash will be making its debut at the LA Olympics.

Powerhouses to watch out for include Egypt’s Nour El Sherbini, Peru’s Diego Elias, and New Zealand’s Paul Coll.

Modern Pentathlon

A slight tweak to modern pentathlon will be made for the LA Olympics.

The five-event competition – consisting of fencing, swimming, horse riding, shooting and a cross-country run – will do away with the equestrian segment for 2028, replacing it with an obstacle event which looks like it can be compared to American Ninja Warrior.