The 15-year-old Lithuanian girl who captivated the break world: “I want an Olympic medal” | Sports

Dominika Banevič is only 15 years old, but she can already boast the title of European champion.

The winner’s crown went to the Lithuanian, whose stage name is Bgirl Nicka, after a stunning performance in the final last weekend in Spain. In it, D. Banevič confidently surpassed her rival who was 14 years older.

“Was it the best dance of my career so far?” – asked firmly and confidently, just like on the dance floor, with 15 minutes socialized young champion. – Well, there are always complaints. You can always do better, but this time in the final it was probably the best.”

D. Banevič, who was fascinated by the break at the age of 5, collected gold medals before, but she calls this crown the most expensive in her career so far.

“Because it was the official European Championship. I’ve won competitions with the best from around the world, but it wasn’t officially a world championship. Or European,” Bgirl Nicka explained.

After the triumph in the championships of the old continent, she returned to the 4th place in the world ranking and is approaching her dream – first of all, to get to the Paris Olympics, and not only to participate there, but also to win a medal.

It will not be easy, because only the best 16 will appear in the Games. D. Banevič can grab the Olympic ticket already this June at the European Games in Poland, but for that he will need to take first place.

– You are the first Lithuanian European break champion. How important is this title?

– Major. I am very happy that I was able to win. Such championships are held once a year. That was my goal this year – to become the European champion, because last year, in Manchester, I finished fourth, although I planned to dance at least in the final. This time I was first, and the Italian Antila Sandrini, to whom I lost last year, took 4th place.

LSŠF photo/Bgirl Nicka became the 2023 European break champion

– In the final, you competed with Ukrainian Anna Ponomarenko, 14 years older. The judges gave you the victory almost unanimously. That was the final performance – almost perfect?

– Well, there are always complaints. You can always do better, but this time in the finals it was probably the best. It’s usually the other way around, because you don’t have the strength to perform the last dance in the finale. You are tired and don’t have as much energy.

The adrenaline of the final gave me extra energy and I danced the way I wanted. I did everything I wanted to do and I’m very happy about it.

– You are only 15 years old, June 8-there will be 16th Where does so much strength, mastery and self-confidence come from?

– I feel excitement and stress all the time. I will repeat, that defeat, not reaching the final last year at the European Championship, was very important. I think that then it happened precisely because of the psychological barrier. Then I could not control my thoughts, stress, tension. This is very important, because you can be prepared physically, but not psychologically.

I gained a lot of experience from this and other defeats. Nothing scares me now. I’m not afraid of anything. Before, I used to have doubts, I felt stressed, now I just step firmly on the stage. I know I’m ready and I’ve done a lot of work to be here.

– For the second time, you mentioned that last year’s 4th place in the European Championship was a defeat for you.

– Yes, it was very painful. I think, and then I danced very well – I was very close to the final. I have had other losses, but I have learned from them. I started working with a sports psychologist. It helped a lot. Dealing with all that tension on my own was much more difficult. My mother also helped a lot.

– You are the first Lithuanian – European break champion. Do Lithuanians already understand what this sport is, which we will see at the Olympics next year?

– One of my goals is to educate and familiarize Lithuania with the break. I received a lot of congratulatory messages and support. A few years ago, I would say that the break was still viewed quite seriously in Lithuania. Not everyone knew that the break would be at the Olympics.

There is definitely more of that attention now. I am glad that more and more people in Lithuania are learning about this sport, and the level is rising. We have not only basketball, but also another sport that makes Lithuania famous all over the world.

– You have said that “your achievements are not talent, it is hard work”. You go to training after 6 o’clock. during the day when you have to go to school. And after 8 o’clock when you don’t need it. No one has time anymore?

– Yes, break is my life. There is not only time but also no desire for other things. Most of all, I want to breakdance and improve every day. I have my goal. The main one is the Olympic Games. They are already next year, so I’m doing my best to be as well prepared for them as possible.

“Undisputed Masters” and LSŠF photo/Dominika Banevič-Bgirl Nicka won the break competition in Japan

I do what I love every day, so I don’t need to look for motivation. If I still manage to win – I am happy, but if I lose – motivation and determination do not disappear, on the contrary, maybe even increase.

– You are currently ranked in the Olympic selection ranking 4 place with 2240 points. Japan’s Ami Yuasa (2750), Chinese Qingyi Liu (2500) and Italian A.Sandrini (2300). Are they your biggest competitors?

– This ranking does not reflect everything, as it only counts the four best performances. There are also three different levels – World, International and Challenger. You can get a different amount of points in each of them. The highest payouts in Wolrd are 1000. International is 400 and Challenger is 200 for first place. I won’t be able to win everything, but I’m trying to maintain my position so that I don’t drop in the ranking.

You can win against every opponent. You just need to choose the right strategy and, as I mentioned before, be able to control your thoughts. If you compete against an opponent who has been dancing for 20 years and has much more experience, then maybe it will be more difficult psychologically.

Photo of the organizers/Dominika Banevič – B-Girl Nicka

In the last three World Series tournaments – Japan, South Korea and Brazil – I made it to the top eight and then I had to compete against Ami from Japan all the time. It was even a little funny. I lost all three times, but the last time in Brazil I was very close to victory. I won the second round, we went to overtime and she won only in that one. A. Yuasa is definitely my biggest competitor at the moment. Little by little I am getting closer to victory over her. Next time I will win (smiles).

– You record results that Lithuanians have never seen in this sport. Who is your coach, teacher?

– I don’t have one coach. I learn from different foreigners. Most of the time these are in the form of remote seminars. I don’t want to stick to one person, because then you end up copying their style anyway. Most break dancers don’t have coaches. There are physical training specialists, physiotherapists, physiotherapists, etc., but few have break coaches. Maybe more because of the advice and support during the championship itself.

Photo of the organizers/Dominika Banevič – B-Girl Nicka

– You mentioned that you have been learning some moves for half a year. What was the most difficult?

– Very different. You learn one in a week, another takes a month, and the third takes maybe a whole year. When I first started learning, the hardest part for me was the rotary movements. It was very difficult to understand that technique, but once I got it, then everything got easier and easier.

Now that I’m stronger physically, I’d say it’s not difficult to learn complex moves. It’s not as difficult as it was 3-4 years ago.

– You have already mentioned that the goal is next year’s Olympics in Paris. And the dream?

– Win a medal. Breik will make his debut at the Olympic Games and I want to make history. Not only to enter the Olympics, but also to win a medal for Lithuania. This is my dream, plan and goal (smiles).