Popular sport will be removed from 2028 Olympics and its replacement has already been named
This sport will not be making a return to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics after receiving a controversial reception at the Paris Games.
Most of us will agree that the Olympics are best known for the high profile sports such as swimming, diving, gymnastics and athletics.
However, there are several non-staple sports constantly being added and removed from the ever-rotating roster of Olympic sports.
Recent success stories have included sport climbing, with Team GB's Toby Roberts picking up a gold in the men's final in Paris, skateboarding and surfing, all of which were retained from Tokyo 2020.
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However, there is one new sport that won't be returning for a second run - and its replacement has already been announced.
This sport is, of course, breakdancing, with the event attracting a lot of attention - and also controversy - during its first outing.
The men's and women's breaking events, known as the B-girls and B-boys competitions, being won by Japan's Ami Yuasa and Canada's Philip Kim respectively.
However most of the attention was on Australian competitor Raygun, real name Rachael Gunn, who went viral for her routine, which saw writhing around on the floor and mimicking a kangaroo.
The 36-year-old is devastated to see breakdancing leaving the Olympics line-up so quickly, slamming the decision to axe it before the Paris breaking events had even taken place.
"It was disappointing it was decided that it wouldn’t be in L.A., particularly before we even had a chance to show it," Gunn said in a statement.
She continued: "That was possibly a little premature. I wonder if they’re kicking themselves now?
"What is an Olympic sport? What are the similarities between dressage and artistic swimming and the 100m sprint and the pentathlon?"
"Breaking is clearly athletic, it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects. It’s really bringing a new level of excitement."
With breakdancing on the outs, it means there is now a vacant spot for a new sport to have a shot at establishing itself on the world stage.
Organisers at LA '28 have already decided on what the newcomer sport will be, with cricket to make its debut in four years. The sport was last featured over a century ago at the Paris 1900 Games.
It joins fellow returnees baseball, softball and lacrosse, while flag football will make its debut.
Breakdancing isn't the only sport to be unceremoniously dropped from the games either, with events such as tug of war, swimming obstacle courses and even chariot racing all resigned to the Olympics graveyard.
The masterminds behind breaking's Paris '24 run also haven't given up on the sport altogether, with the World DanceSport Federation already eyeing a comeback at Brisbane '32.
Topics: Olympics
Brenna Cooper