The International World Games Association (IWGA) has named China’s B-Girl Royal as Athlete of the Month for February 2026, recognising her remarkable achievements and growing influence on the global breaking scene.
The honour follows a sensational 2025 season that saw Royal crowned champion in the– Breaking competition– Individual Women (DanceSport) at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu.
Competing on home soil, she delivered a commanding performance to win gold in an all-Chinese final, overcoming B-Girl 671, who claimed silver, while Lithuania’s B-Girl Nicka took bronze.
For Royal, the victory marked a defining milestone.
“Winning a gold medal at The World Games is, for me, the first international multi-sport event of this scale I have truly achieved,” she said. “This is the greatest motivation for me. I am grateful to the Chinese breakdance national team, all the coaches who have helped me, and my supportive family. This achievement belongs not only to me, but also to them.”
Her triumph in Chengdu was more than a medal moment; it was a personal breakthrough.
Royal reflected on her evolution from a young athlete who struggled with defeat to a world champion strengthened by experience.
“What I am most proud of is that I have grown from crying after losing competitions when I was young to gradually becoming stronger when facing such situations,” she explained. “This has made me understand that experience is also the best teacher.”
She points to a pivotal setback at the 2024 Red Bull BC One World Final in Brazil, where a mistake in one of her moves cost her dearly. Rather than avoid it, she confronted it head-on.
“I practiced that move repeatedly every day. It wasn’t because it was the most difficult move, but because I had to overcome that hurdle in my heart. Although this process was painful, it allowed me to grow.”
In The World Games final, Royal’s performance stood out not only for technical precision but also for creativity and emotional expression. Yet her focus was inward rather than on her opponent.
“In the finals, no matter who I was competing against, it wasn’t the most important thing. What I wanted to defeat was myself,” she said. “At that moment, my only thought was to surrender myself to the music and let it guide me. Whether I could win in the end, I left it to the judges. What I wanted to do was to enjoy the stage, enjoy the music, and defeat the me from yesterday.”
Her success throughout 2025 and into early 2026 has cemented her status as one of breaking’s leading figures. Beyond titles, she believes in the culture’s deeper values.
“I believe that breaking culture will definitely become better and better in the future, with more and more people participating in it. Because it teaches us respect, peace, love, unity, and to have fun.”
Being named IWGA Athlete of the Month recognises not only her gold medal performance but also her broader impact as a role model and ambassador for the sport.
“Thank you very much. This means a lot to me, and it strengthens my resolve to pursue what I love,” Royal said. “I hope everyone who pursues their dreams will believe in the light, chase after the light, become the light, and radiate the light, so that more people can become stronger through sports.”