TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese breakdancer Sun Chen (孫振, B-boy Quake), secured a historic berth to the Paris 2024 Olympics on Monday (June 24), becoming the first athlete from Taiwan to qualify in the newly added sport of breaking.

Sun finished 15th in the Budapest Olympic qualifier. However, his combined score from a previous qualifier in Shanghai and the Budapest qualifier were enough to earn him one of the 10 available Olympic slots.

Breaking, a vibrant dance style rooted in hip-hop culture, will make its Olympic debut in Paris, per Paris 2024. The qualifying process spanned two years. 

Forty male and 40 female breakers battled it out in the Shanghai and Budapest qualifiers. Top breakers based on combined scores from both events qualify for the Olympics.

Sun competed despite a foot injury, requiring painkillers to participate in the Shanghai qualifiers last month. He reached the quarterfinals but ultimately finished seventh.

Continuing his push for the Olympics in Budapest, Sun placed 15th in his group. However, Sun still secured a berth to the Olympics because each country can only send two athletes per country per gender. 

Sun’s agency said he is honored to represent Taiwan at the Olympics. “Now I have this opportunity to go to the Olympics,” Sun said, “this has always been a dream of mine, and I will continue to work hard.”