Dr. Rachael Gunn, also known as “Raygun,” made waves at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with her breaking (breakdancing) performance.
Her routines didn’t score any points in all three of her round-robin battles, leading to a mix of reactions online. Some people found her unique style entertaining, while others criticized her academic background and questioned why she was there.
But Dr. Gunn had a specific reason for her performance.
Rachael Gunn, a 36-year-old breakdancer from Australia, faced strong competition in the first-ever Olympic breaking event. She lost all three of her battles, scoring 0-18 against opponents from the USA, France, and Lithuania.
Paris #Olympics will always be remembered for this. #Raygunn 😂
pic.twitter.com/PC3LYRNX5Z
— Sreeraj Arasa (@SreerajArasa) August 13, 2024
Even though Rachael Gunn lost her battles at the Olympics, her unique style quickly became a viral sensation on social media. She was both mocked and praised, with one person on X (formerly Twitter) joking that if she turned out to be a comedian who tricked her way into the Olympics, it would be one of the greatest pranks ever.
As criticism grew, Rachael responded on Instagram, suggesting that gender bias might be at play. She pointed out how male breakdancers (b-boys) don’t face the same scrutiny as female breakdancers (b-girls), saying, “Looking forward to the same level of scrutiny on what the bboys wear tomorrow.”
Rachael earned her spot as Australia’s b-girl representative by winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023. In the world of breaking, “B-girl” refers to a female breakdancer, while “B-boy” refers to a male one. The “B” comes from “break,” the part of the music they dance to. Breaking, also known as b-boying or b-girling, started in the 1970s and became a key part of hip-hop culture.
In a post shared by Australia’s breaking team, Rachael encouraged others to embrace their uniqueness, saying, “Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out there and represent yourself; you never know where that’s gonna take you.”
And, of course, Americans are left wondering: “How is Australia so good at sports?”
Australia once the water sports are over: pic.twitter.com/7vg87XvRxm
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) August 9, 2024
After her Olympic performance, Dr. Rachael Gunn explained her intentions, saying, “All my moves are original. I knew I couldn’t compete with the other girls in dynamic and power moves, so I decided to be different, artistic, and creative. How many chances do you get to do that on an international stage?”
Her academic background also caught attention and sparked controversy. Dr. Gunn has a PhD in Cultural Studies and a BA in Contemporary Music from Macquarie University. Her research focuses on the cultural politics of breaking, combining cultural theory, dance studies, popular music, media, and ethnography.
However, some critics saw her Olympic performance as just a stunt. Hannah Berreli, editor for *On The Woman Q*, criticized her on X, saying, “Hundreds of Australian athletes who have dedicated their lives to athletic excellence will be forgotten because Rachael wanted to boost her academic profile.”
So I looked into this. I thought maybe I should feel sorry for the woman, athletes can choke, and maybe it was cruel for people to be making fun of her. Alternatively, I thought it may be possible she was led up the garden path, told she was good break dancer when she wasn’t, and… https://t.co/YQHA0K05wr
— Hannah Berrelli (@HannahBerrelli) August 10, 2024
Despite the criticism, Rachael stood by her actions and expressed pride in representing Australia. She talked about how meaningful it was to wear the Australian Olympic tracksuit, especially the one with Indigenous designs, saying, “It was a real moment of pride for me to wear the Australian uniform.”
Rachael’s performance led to a wave of memes, with one of her moves even being nicknamed “the kangaroo.” While her unconventional style surprised some, it highlighted the importance of creativity in breaking. She told reporters, “I go out there and show my artistry. Sometimes it connects with the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. But I do my thing, and it represents art.”
Unfortunately, breaking won’t be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, according to SBS Australia.