Unlike other Olympians, the 35-year-old Tennessee native is unique.
Growing up, Choi competed in gymnastics and planned to attend a Division 1 institution; however, knee issues prompted her to withdraw from the program. While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Choi noticed a few individuals breakdancing on campus and tried to just keep busy. A few recruiters who were looking to expand their club’s membership signed her up, and things just kept getting better.
At first, what I truly fell in love with was being upside down and the physical demands of breaking, but what really kept me going was the camaraderie.
In a recent interview, Choi told News, “I felt like I was really growing through it because it challenged me in ways that I wasn’t challenged in the rest of my life.”
Choi, a “B-Girl” in her sport, claimed she never had any desire to compete in the Olympics. She claimed to be practicing four or six days a week in addition to working a corporate job at Estée Lauder.