SA breakdancer Courtnae’ Paul crowned African champion

Paul competed against 19 break dancers from different parts of the continent.

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Speaking to SABC Sport, Paul says she was impressed by how breakdancing is growing in Africa.

“What an honour! This was a big one on my calendar for the year and I’m ecstatic that my hard work, sweat and sacrifices have paid off. I’m grateful, humbled and ready to see how much further we can take this,” Paul said.

“The West African breaking scene's depth, passion, and massive interest really surprised me. I'm now more driven than ever to discover the hidden gems across Africa.”

The Durban-born dancer started sports at a very young age firstly as a gymnast and then football player before getting into breakdancing.

She says being involved in sports from a young age has pushed her to be mentally strong.

“My sporting journey started with gymnastics and soccer around age 6. Those sports taught me valuable lessons: consistency, self-belief, and giving 100% - even when you're not feeling it. On, off days, I give 100% of what I have,” she explained.

“These principles have stuck with me and given me the mental toughness to push through. I wasn't at my best when competition day arrived but my early lessons kicked in: trust the prep, trust myself.”

The 32-year-old made it to the final round of the Olympic Qualifiers, which she highlights as one of the best moments of her year.

“What a year! It has been non-stop so it's easy to forget just how epic 2024 has been. Top 3 highlights so far? Winning my second Red Bull BC One SA title, ranking as Africa's highest breaker in the inaugural Olympic Qualifier Series, coming home with the AfroBreak Africa Final belt. And the best part? The year's not done yet! Maybe I'll have new favorites by December,” she added.