Athletes are returning home with their loved ones after the Paris 2024 Olympics, but no one attracted more attention than Rachael Gunn, sometimes known as “Raygun.”
The 36-year-old Australian breakdancer competed in the first-ever breakdancing competition at the Olympics this year, along with a few of her contemporaries. It was a watershed event for the culture, coming from the streets of New York City decades ago and onto the international scene. It was a sight to behold for Olympic fans all around the world, but Raygun stole the spotlight for all the wrong reasons—and now she’s being blamed for breakdancing’s removal from the Los Angeles Olympics roster.
On August 9, Gunn demonstrated her moves in the B-Girl bout, and she quickly went viral. Viewers flooded social media with video and questions, particularly after Gunn scored no points and finished last. Not only were pundits perplexed as to how Raygun made it to the Olympics, but breakdancers and those engaged in the culture were as well. Then, rumors and suspicion about Raygun cheating her way into the Paris Olympics spread over the internet. This elevated the university lecturer to infamy, but her country—and the Australian breaking organization AUSBreak—have rallied to her support.
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Gunn’s resumé alone demonstrates her passion for breakdancing. She holds a doctorate in media, music, cultural studies, and communications from Macquarie University, where she is currently a professor. Raygun has written extensively about the art and history of breaking and Hip Hop, but it was her husband and coach, Samuel Free, who first exposed her to the culture. He, too, is a breakdancer, and the two are well-known in their country’s small but developing breaking community.
Although Raygun is well-known in her community, especially given her history of breaching academic rules, she appeared to be aware that she was out of her league. She told reporters after her performance, “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves,” according to NBC News. Gunn also mentioned some of the most ridiculed maneuvers, such as the Bunny Hop and the Sprinkler. Some accused her of intentionally undermining the Olympics with her terrible performance. “I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative, because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage.”
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Meanwhile, Gunn has continued to face criticism online and in the media. Her talents and abilities have undoubtedly been debated, but the mockery has also been tremendous. Gunn was boosted by her fellow Olympians, who rallied around her in laughing, fun, and support. They pumped up her performance, and she performed a few routines for the audience after being raised through the throng on someone’s shoulders as if she had won the gold medal. Despite the global backlash over her Paris Olympics performance, Gunn seemed to be taking it all in stride openly. In addition, the World DanceSport Federation is said to have provided mental health help.
Many people expected Gunn’s Olympic blunders to slip into obscurity by the next major news cycle, just like any other hot subject or viral moment. However, her time in the spotlight was extended as misconduct charges spread on social media. TikTok videos surfaced showing alleged behind-the-scenes deals that allowed Gunn to compete on the Olympic stage. It was claimed that Raygun and her husband created the Australian Breaking Association. The chatter said that the couple made it financially difficult for other breakdancers to attend qualifying competitions in Australia, paving the way for Gunn and her pals to become judges and participants. It was noted that the dancers who were allegedly barred from participation were from marginalized groups.
After accusations of shady dealings spread quickly online, a Change.org petition to Australia’s Prime Minister was launched against Gunn. With nearly 39,000 signatures as of this publishing, the petition demanded an apology from the breakdancing professor, calling the practice “unethical.” It said: “Rachael Gunn, who set up her own governing body for breakdancing, has manipulated the selection process to her own advantage.”
It went on, “Despite the obvious talent and qualification of other outstanding female breakdancers such as G Clef and Holy Molly, they were unfairly overlooked.” Dr. Gunn denied the NT Youlong Boys, a group of exceptionally talented and underprivileged boys from the Northern Territory, critical funds to attend the qualifiers—a decision that negatively impacted their opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a national platform.”
This story not only traveled like wildfire, but it also sparked a new level of animosity toward Gunn. While Raygun has not issued a formal statement about the allegations, AUSBreak has denied any malfeasance in the Olympic selection process. “We condemn Raygun’s global online harassment and bullying,” the statement read. “The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is enormous, especially against the opponents in her specific group. We are in solidarity with Raygun.”
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They also stated that the qualification procedure lasted two days and followed “World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) regulations, which align with International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards, the process aimed to ensure a fair and transparent outcome.” AUSBreak elaborated on the vetting procedure. “The Oceania Olympic selection event (The QMS 2023 WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships) in October 2023 gathered the best Breakers, both Bgirls and Bboys. A panel of nine foreign adjudicators, a chief judge, and a chairperson oversaw the competition, utilizing the same judging method as the Paris Games and trained to maintain the highest levels of impartiality. These judges are all highly renowned in their respective communities and on the worldwide Breaking scene.”
Officials have exonerated Rachael Gunn, despite her silence. Furthermore, her country, team, and fans support her. Australian Olympic chief Anna Meares expressed her admiration for Rachael and slammed the media for “giving air time” to “trolls and keyboard warriors.” She went on to say, “I totally admire her courage. I adore her persona, and I am really disappointed for her that she has come under attack… “She is Australia’s top female breakdancer.
Meares appears to have also accused critics of sexism. “Now you look at the history of what we have had as women athletes, have faced in terms of criticism, belittlement, judgement, and simple comments like ‘they shouldn’t be there,” said the woman. “One hundred years ago, leading up to Paris 1924, Australia sent a team of 37 athletes, none of them were women. One hundred years later, we have 256 female representatives here.” However, charges of Raygun intellectualizing Hip Hop and breaking culture without essential roots to its origins, as well as representing it at the Olympics, continue to ignite disputes throughout the world.
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