Generation Z, or Gen Z, refer to the generation of people who have grown up alongside the development of the Internet and digital technology. Today, young people of this generation are holding posts in all walks of life. They are playing significant roles in different sectors, and they are showing young and beautiful vibes in the digital era, which highlights vigorous advancement in technology and the digital economy. On the new journey of Chinese modernization, China's Gen Z women are writing wonderful chapters, by making contributions to the progress of their country. Women of China presents the stories of five Chinese Gen Z women.
In this article, we share the story of Guo Pu, China's first gold medalist in the world breaking championships.
Guo Pu, a native of Linyi, and known on stage as B-girl Royal, has established her dominance — on both national and international stages — as a breakdancer. Guo, who was born in 2008, won the silver medal, in the women's breakdancing competition, during China's 15th National Games in November 2025. That was her first medal during the national games. She won the champions during the 2025 World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Breaking Championships, in June 2025, in east China's Shanghai Municipality, and the 12th World Games, in August 2025, in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
But winning the WDSF World Breaking Championships, in 2025, has been the highlight of Guo's career. During the world championships, in Fukuoka, Japan, Guo defeated three Japanese dancers, in succession, during the quarterfinals, semifinals and final. As she watched China's national flag being raised, and as she heard China's national anthem being performed, she became excited. "I felt proud, as I knew my motherland always backs me up!" Guo recalls.
Guo became China's first gold medalist in the world breaking championships. Her success reflects the vitality of the new generation of Chinese athletes.
Guo grew up in an ordinary family in Pingyi, a county in Linyi. She studied the keyboard, singing and traditional Chinese dance when she was a young girl. When Guo was 7, Li Shilong, a breakdancing coach, recognized Guo's breaking talent. Li met Guo when he was invited to be a judge during the auditions for the Spring Festival TV gala in Pingyi. After Guo's performance, Li invited her to attend a breaking class in his studio, to see if she was interested in joining his studio.
Breaking, an acrobatic style of street dancing, is based on precise musicality, fast footwork, balance, flexibility and incredible strength.
"While most children had to practice for months to learn a difficult move, Guo needed one class only. She made progress fast," Li recalls. Guo's exceptional competitiveness enables her to stand out. "The coaches never urged her to practice difficult moves, because she pushed herself to practice them, again and again, until she did them perfectly," Li recalls. Guo sometimes had trouble getting to sleep after practice, because she was too exhausted. But, she never thought of giving up.
In 2021, as the youngest competitor, Guo finished sixth, in the women's breaking competition, during the 14th National Games, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Her performance was strong enough to earn her a spot on the national team. Guo competed in the world championships, in the Republic of Korea, in 2022. She competed in the first several rounds, and she finished among the top 32 contestants. Her confidence continued to grow after she won the championship, during Student (Youth) Games, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in 2023.
When asked about one of her unforgettable experiences, Guo said she faced great frustration in the Red Bull BC One World Final, in December 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Guo was one of the two Chinese women dancers to qualify for the competition. "That was the first time I had traveled so far to compete in a top-level, global event. I was so nervous that I made mistakes with my moves in the first battle, and I failed to enter the next round," Guo recalls. After the competition, she was disappointed in herself. She even doubted if she would continue to make progress.
Hard work was the key to Guo regaining her confidence. She practiced harder than before. When she had trouble in improving the difficulty of her moves, she strengthened her strength and conditioning training.
She has always attached importance to learning, and especially in learning from different coaches. "I also enjoy learning the history of breaking, which helps deepen my understanding of the sport," Guo says.
When asked about the advantages of B-girls, Guo said women tend to be extremely flexible, so their moves tend to be more agile and lively compared with men. "Based on this advantage, B-girls can create unique transitions and difficult moves. To win a battle with a man, creativity and the ability to make a quick response on stage are crucial," Guo says.
Personality is an essential part of breaking. Guo integrates Chinese martial arts and traditional operas into her moves. "A breakdancer must use his/her unique moves to express his/her ideas, rather than simply imitate others. To obtain inspiration, I often dance freely to traditional Chinese music, which doesn't have a regular tempo. I hope I will develop a distinctive, Chinese style of dancing," she says.
Although Guo is not very talkative, she is open and confident on stage. For her, breaking is not just a sport; rather, it is a way for her to express herself. "Breaking makes me feel free. I hope more people will see how breaking embodies one's ideas and personality. Breaking is also a good way to keep fit," she says.
Dozens of dancers study in Guo's studio, in Linyi. Guo often practices there, and she helps the other dancers when they encounter problems. She also shares her experiences, and her understanding of breaking, with the other dancers.
Guo says she enjoys every moment when she is dancing. She hopes to lead women breakdancers in winning glory for China on the international stage.
Photos and Video from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly May 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
