Sports coordinator for breaking — Nito Rihal

Growing up, Nito was often told by friends and family that there is no future in breaking but now 2024 sees the dance style going to the Olympics

What degree did you study?

I graduated from Kingston University with a degree in sports and exercise science (coaching).

How did you get your job?

I started breaking when I was 13 years old and have also worked in the breaking community from age 15. When the IOC (International Olympic Committee) announced that break dancing will be a featured sport at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, I was contacted by the Norwegian Dance Federation who offered me a job to support and prepare the Norwegian athletes for the games.

I didn't have an existing connection with the Federation but a fellow breaker from the Norwegian breaking community recommended me to them. Presumably that, and my background in event organisation, as well as ties within the international breaking community prompted them to reach out.

I made it a goal from the start to seek knowledge and experience globally, with the intention of nurturing and building the local community in Norway. I believe my international work experience, collaborations and connections gave me a significant advantage in supporting the athletes in Team Norway.

What's a typical working day like?

Initially, my job involved building an infrastructure within the Federation to ensure quality and to preserve the values of breaking.

Now, I conduct comprehensive video analysis of the athletes' performance and pinpoint their strengths and areas needing improvement. Based on the analysis and the athletes' individual goals, I organise training camps for the national team where they get to exchange with other dancers.

In addition to this, I travel to competitions as a coach with my athletes to ensure that they are physically and mentally ready for competition. Since Norway is a relatively small country, we rely on expertise from outside for development. I therefore spend a lot of time networking with the international community and organise training and collaborations with other countries.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

One of my favourite parts is seeing the hard work the athletes put in at training and in action at competitions. I also enjoy travelling and experiencing different cultures. Travelling is a great way for me to meet new people and old friends from around the world who also work in my field.

What are the challenges?

Fitting an artform into a sports format was a challenge, but also very interesting. Elite level sports require structure and strategy, and as there is little to no research on breaking as a sport, we realised we needed to find best practice by trial and error.

In what way is your degree relevant?

I feel incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to apply what I learned at university to my job in real life. The knowledge I've gained through my degree has prepared me well. Knowledge about sport and exercise has allowed me to support my athletes with maximising their performance and ensure correct training to prevent injuries.

How has your role developed and what are your career ambitions?

My role requires a lot of flexibility and trial and error as it has never existed before, specifically for my sport. I hope to pave the way and develop an ideal structure for others in my field.

I aspire to further my efforts in advancing the profession of breaking as both a cultural phenomenon and a recognised sport. I firmly believe that the recognition of breaking as a sport has significantly broadened opportunities for practitioners, offering avenues beyond traditional athletic careers.

As for the athletes, access to a support system of professionals will contribute to a longer career as an active athlete. I will work towards a future where pursuing a career as a breaker would be like any other professional athlete.

What advice can you give to others wanting to get into this job?

• Become an expert at your passion and find creative ways to build a career out of it.
• Create connections around the world.
• Try to align your development to your goal. I linked my assignments at university to my actual work, which resulted in being very valuable for both my athletes and me.
• Stay humble, but don't be afraid to let the world see your value.

Find out more

• Read all about being a sports development officer.
• Take a look at the leisure, sport and tourism sector.