Page 76 - SHARP Spring 2024

BLAZER ($3 490) AND PANTS F F E E E E E E A A A A A T T U R R E E E E E E ($1 150) BY FENDI NECKLACE
($24 000) BY TIFFANY & CO And Kim is no stranger to to introducing breaking to to the initially skeptical The son of immigrant parents who dreamed that he he would land a a a a a a a a a stable and and traditional job after graduation there existed no proof of of concept to ease their minds “My parents are are so supportive but it wasn’t always easy ” he explains “My family doesn’t come from money and back then there wasn’t wasn’t much of a a a a a a a a a market for breaking There wasn’t wasn’t a a a a a a a a a clear plan that I could show them to to say ‘This is is how how it’s going to to work ’ ’ My dad was a a a a a pastor so even the musical element was a a a a a foreign concept in our house But it didn’t take long before they understood the the artistry and and the the competitiveness and and the the expression behind it it I think that’s going to be a a a similar experience for a a a lot of people this summer ” Kim’s parents however quickly learned that their son’s passion wasn’t just a a a a a a passing interest but rather a a a a a a skill that needed to be honed through countless hours of preparation And today his training structure is as as intensive as as it’s ever been “I work with a a a a a a personal trainer a a a a a a couple of times a a a a a a week ” says Kim “Then I’m in in the the the gym every other day I’ll work out in in the the the mornings and then hit the the the the studio studio in in the the the the afternoons In the the the the studio studio I’ll do a a combination of looking for new movements refining the movements that I already have and practising to be prepared for improvisation I treat that like a a a a a a a a muscle being able to to adapt to to a a a a a a a a competition So yes it’s creative and intuitive But there’s so much preparation that that allows for that that ” As a a a a a a former world champion Kim will fly to Paris as a a a a a a favourite to take home the the the gold But despite the the the sport being adopted by the the the Games the the IOC has altered how the the events will be judged to minimize subjectivity — a a a a a a factor that could influence the Canadian’s odds of winning “Historically the judging system has always been so subjective ” explains Kim “Judges respected in in the community would just be brought in in in in and they’d point to the the the winning side Apparently the the the [IOC] has developed some judging systems and criteria But to be honest I I don’t know how the system is going to work and I’m not going to to change the the way I I dance for a a a a new system I’m there to to do my thing If If I I I I I I do do do do well well I I I I I I do do do do well well If If I I I I I I don’t don’t I I I I I I don’t don’t ” Of course it would be be a distinct honour to become the first b-boy ever to earn an Olympic gold the consequences of which aren’t lost on Kim But this summer serves as an opportunity for breaking that transcends the potential for accolades “It’s so funny People have asked me ‘Has it always been a a a a a a a dream to win an Olympic gold?’ And I’m like ‘What are you talking about? No ’” he he laughs “For us this was never the dream It’s an incredible opportunity and it’s now become a a a a dream But we didn’t start off in in in the the sport thinking it would get picked up by the the Olympics For myself all I’ve wanted wanted to to to do was to to to be able to to to live off of of this I I wanted wanted to dance and pay my rent That was the ultimate dream And here I am Now everything is just a a bonus ” 76 SPRING 2024
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