Games-B-Boy Phil Wizard conjures up Pan Am gold and ticket to Paris

SANTIAGO : Canadian breaker B-Boy Phil Wizard (Philip Kim) conjured up a gold medal and a ticket to the Paris Olympics on Saturday taking top spot on the podium in the first Pan American Games break dancing competition.

B-Girl Sunny (Grace Choi) is also going to Paris after the American claimed the women's gold on a historic day for a sport that is facing an uncertain future.

Break dancing's addition to the Paris Olympic programme raised eyebrows among traditionalists but its status as an official sport may be short-lived after being passed over for inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games.

With the possibility of break dancing being one-and-done as an Olympic sport, the Pan American Games took on greater significance with gold medallists getting a coveted quota spot and a chance to perhaps go down in history as the sport's one and only Olympic champion.

"Honestly the Olympic place means more to me, I want to be there, I want to be part of history," said Kim, after adding Pan Am gold to his 2022 world championship title. "To be completely honest I had already secured my spot because Victor (Montalvo) from the U.S. had already won the world championships, so two U.S. people cannot get a direct quota in breaking.

"Going into the finals I had already secured my spot but it gave me more of push because it would have been bitter sweet to secure my place and lose the battle."

Known for his creativity Kim blended artistry and athleticism in his gold medal battle with the United States B-Boy Jeffro (Jeffrey Lewis) earning a perfect 3-0 score from the nine judges.

"My focus has always been respecting myself," said the 26-year-old Canadian. "The way I approach breaking is always originality and creativity first because that is