South African breakdancer Courtnae Paul is targeting a Paris 2024 berth. OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images

Breaking makes its Olympic debut this summer with two upcoming final qualifiers being held in Shanghai and Budapest. South Africa's Courtnae Paul is one of seven B-girls and B-boys from Africa hoping to earn a spot at Paris 2024.

Born in Durban, the 32-year-old practised a number of sports including gymnastics and kick boxing before moving to Johannesburg where she worked professionally as a dancer, choreographer and DJ. Breakdancing, called breaking in its sport form, was merely a hobby for Paul until the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It's a mixture of martial arts, gymnastics - all the cool stuff." - Courtnae Paul

Breaking, which had been contested at the Buenos Aires 2018 Youth Olympic Games, was confirmed as part of the Paris programme in July 2020. Paul recalled to AFP, "I couldn't believe it. There was nowhere for me to take it (previously). No platforms existed."

The timing was perfect with the South African having just started to devote more time to the activity. She said, "It was God's way of saying, 'Let's get you back to the thing we want you to do.' I'd like to have been, you know, six years younger, but I'll take what I can get."

Courtnae Paul competing at the Red Bull BC One Cypher South Africa in Johannesburg. OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images
Courtnae Paul competing at the Red Bull BC One Cypher South Africa in Johannesburg. OLYMPIA DE MAISMONT/AFP via Getty Images


In late March, Paul claimed her second Red Bull BC One Cypher South Africa title in Johannesburg to qualify for December's World Finals in Rio de Janeiro. Despite her success at domestic level, sponsorship has been hard to come by with Paul lacking the funds to travel to more than a handful of events per year. "Nine out of 10 times, everything is coming out of my pocket," she revealed. "In a perfect world, I'd be a professional athlete and get paid to train, eat and sleep. Unfortunately in South Africa, that's not my reality."

The Olympics could change that, although the sport was dealt a devastating blow when it was left off the Los Angeles 2028 programme. For now, Paul is preparing to compete in the Olympic Qualifying Series events where Paris places are up for grabs. The first is in Shanghai, China from 16-19 May with the Hungarian capital Budapest staging the second from 20-23 June.

Described by her coach Jaco Claasen as "explosive" and "powerful", Paul will compete with 40 other B-girls for one of 16 available berths in the Olympic competition.

"The circuits that have been built around Olympic qualifiers are game-changing," Paul said. "I've worked as hard as I can, and I'm as ready as I can be. A self-assured person is a dangerous one!"