For years, breaking athletes have competed across the globe, inspiring audiences with their creativity, their athleticism and their enthusiasm for their sport. Now, U.S. breaker Sunny Choi will be among those looking to impress the world when breaking makes it's Olympic debut this summer in Paris. Choi, who quit a high-level corporate job last year to focus on breaking full-time, will be one of the favorites to win the first ever gold medal in the women's event.

Learn more about B-girl Sunny as she prepares for the Games here.

Athlete bio:

How tall is Sunny Choi?

Sunny Choi is 5-foot-1.

How old is Sunny Choi?

Sunny Choi is 35 years old and was born on November 10, 1998.

Where is Sunny Choi from?

Sunny Choi was born in Cookeville, Tennessee, but her family moved to Lexington, Kentucky, when she was young. Now, she lives in Queens, New York.

Who are Sunny Choi’s parents?

Sunny Choi’s parents are Kyung-Ju and Jung-In Choi. They both immigrated to the United States from Daegu, South Korea in the 1970s to pursue masters degrees at the University of Tennessee. Choi also has three brothers.

 

Where did Sunny Choi go to college?

Sunny Choi attended the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelors of Science in marketing.

When did Sunny Choi start breaking?

Sunny Choi started breaking her freshman year at Penn. After knee injuries forced her off the gymnastics team, she joined the breaking club and fell in love with the sports’ physical challenges and creative individuality.

What are some fun facts about Sunny Choi?

  • Before quitting her job to work full time as a professional breaker, Sunny Choi was the Director of Global Creative Operations at Estée Lauder, one of the largest cosmetic companies in the world.
  • When she was young, Choi was inspired to join gymnastics by the 1992 Barcelona Olympic team. She had dreams of reaching the Olympics as a gymnast before her career was ended by injuries.
  • Sunny Choi has been open about her focus on mental health. She has said that she quit her corporate job due to the intense burnout she was feeling trying to balance a career with her breaking.

Career highlights:

How many World Championships has Sunny Choi won?

Sunny Choi has competed at the World Championships three times. Her best results are tied at seventh place finishes in 2021 and 2022.

How many titles does Sunny Choi have?

Sunny Choi’s first title came when she won the Pan American Games women’s breaking competition in November 2023.

What medals has Sunny Choi won?

Sunny Choi has won a trio of silver medals alongside her Pan American Games gold medal: she placed second in the 2019 World Urban Games, the 2022 IWGA World Games and the 2023 Pan American Championships.

Has Sunny Choi qualified for the Paris Olympics?

Sunny Choi became the first U.S. woman to qualify in breaking for the 2024 Paris Olympics after winning gold at the 2023 Pan American Games.