IOC announces winners of first Let’s Move Street Challenge
13 Nov 2023 – The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has revealed the first-ever winners of the Let’s Move Street Challenge – the unique online competition supported by Worldwide Olympic Partner Samsung, inviting BMX, breaking and skateboarding enthusiasts to showcase their best moves and creative skills. Twenty-one winners from 13 countries have been selected by the judges from thousands of entries, unlocking an all-access trip to watch some of the best athletes competing for their ticket to Paris 2024 at the first Olympic Qualifier Series in Shanghai.
BMX Freestyle Park
Melville Smith (United States of America)
Ozawa “Miharu” Miharu (Japan)
BMX Real Street
Andres “Mickey” Michael (New Zealand)
Eleonora (Greece)
BMX Dirt
Tommy Crail (United States of America)
Michelle Neuner (Switzerland)
Skateboarding Park
Eddie Acres (Australia)
Malgorzata Burkacka (Poland)
Skateboarding Real Street
Carlos Burgos (Cuba)
Guadalupe Aime (Argentina)
Skateboarding Street Park
James Huntley (New Zealand)
Keily Frank
Breaking Best Round
Penny “Penny” Deng (People’s Republic of China)
“Vinilla” Yelyzaveta Ovcharova (Ukraine)
Breaking Power Move
Pisani “Arthur” Alves de Silva Arthur (Brazil)
Bgirl Small (People’s Republic of China)
Breaking Footwork
Keith Jennings “Ghost”
Adejoke “Cruxy” Victoria Akinbogym (Nigeria)
Street culture
Jonatan Mineiro “Ze pequeno BMX” (Brazil)
Best produced
Maxime Castillon (France)
Most surprising video
Higor Cruz “Higorcruzb” Balthazar (Brazil)
These 21 award winners who have been selected by the judges will now have the opportunity to experience first-hand the athletes’ Road to Paris 2024, with an-all access trip to an Olympic qualifying event in Shanghai in May 2024. The new Olympic Qualifier Series is a four-part event series that will bring together the best athletes in one urban park for a festival-style event, and will serve as the ultimate qualification stage for BMX freestyle, breaking, skateboarding and sport climbing. At least half of the qualification spots for Paris 2024 will be allocated through the Olympic Qualifier Series, with 464 athletes set to compete.
Urban sports enthusiasts everywhere were invited to enter the Let’s Move Street Challengein the discipline of their choice by sharing a 30-second video showing their skills on Olympics.com, with thousands of entries submitted from over 83 countries. Each entry was closely watched and scored by a panel of expert judges and influential faces from across the three sports including BMX rider Nina Buitrago (USA), skateboarder Jean-Baptiste Gillet (France) and B-Girl Narumi (Japan).
The winners were revealed during a one-off, 60-minute show streamed on Olympics.com, bringing together participants, fans and athletes from across the three sports to celebrate the competition, as well as the sports and communities that surround them. It was hosted by BMX rider Darryl Nau, and featured judges Christie Hughes (BMX), Suzanne Reekers (skate), BBOY Spin (breaking) and Little Shao (creative). Fans were also able to join a live chat to share their reactions to the winners and interact with each other, and had the chance to win exclusive Let’s Move Street Challenge merchandise.
Tens of thousands of people from all over the world also watched the incredible entries and voted for their “fan favourite” awards: Alne3aimy (BMX), Haruki Aka Shoma (breaking) and Mapache (skateboarding).
The Let’s Move Street Challenge, supported by Worldwide Olympic Partner Samsung, is a new Olympic initiative from the IOC. It is a unique digital competition that invited people from all corners of the world to showcase their sporting and creative talent in BMX, breaking and skateboarding. With the vision of being open, accessible and inclusive, and providing inspiration to practise sport, competitors were invited to enter the challenge by submitting a 30-second video of themselves performing their best move.
Speaking about the initiative, Leandro Larrosa, IOC Digital Engagement and Marketing Director said: “Through the Let’s Move Street Challenge, we wanted to create an opportunity for people of all levels and locations to take part in an accessible and inclusive Olympic-style competition.
With thousands of incredible, creative and skilled entries from every corner of the world and tens of thousands more views and votes, we hope that many more will now be inspired to try urban sports and embrace the joy of movement anywhere, any way.”
The Let’s Move Street Challenge builds on the successes of the IOC’s Let’s Move initiative, launched on Olympic Day 2023 following the World Health Organization’s finding that one in four adults and over 80 per cent of young people do not meet the recommended minimum activity levels needed for optimum health.
Two of the barriers to physical activity most often cited by young people are ability and access. Sports including BMX, breaking and skateboarding are often accessible, inclusive and community driven. Through this competition, the IOC hopes to inspire and enable more young people to move using urban sport.
All the entries for the Olympic Street Challenge are available to watch now on Olympics.com.
