Olympic breakdancer 'Raygun' hits back at online critics after being mocked for dance moves
Raygun, a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer, went viral after performing her unique and eye-catching routine in the breakdancing at the Olympic Games in Paris
The Australian breakdancer who went viral on social media for her unique routine at the Olympic Games has hit back at her critics, saying they simply don’t understand her “art”.
Raygun, a 36-year-old university lecturer whose real name is Rachael Gunn, caught the eye in the breaking competition in Paris. The sport was included in the Games for the first time and while many of the competitors wowed viewers, Raygun took a different approach.
Her routine included some moves which instantly became memes, including one which she wriggled around on the ground. Raygun chose to compete in an Australia tracksuit and a cap, rather than typical breaking gear, and attracted some ridicule, as well as lots of new admirers.
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“All my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry,” she said. “Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about. What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative – that’s my strength, my creativity.
“I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage. I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way.”
Raygun has a PhD in dance, gender politics and the dynamics between theoretical and practical methodologies. She only picked up the sport in her 20s and is sad that breaking won’t be present at the next Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
“What is an Olympic sport?” Raygun added. “It’s so broad here... what are the similarities between dressage and artistic swimming and the 100m sprint and the pentathlon.
“Breaking is clearly athletic and it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects so I feel like it meets that criteria. And it’s really bringing a new level of excitement.”
The gold medal was won by Japan’s Ami Yuasa, who beat Lithuania’s Dominika Banevic 3-0 in the final. “I don’t want my life to change,” Ami told Olympics.com. I mean it in a good way, but I don’t want to change much myself. I’m happy breaking will get more attention as a result but it’s not all about the winners in this sport.
“It so happens that I won today when everyone showed what they were made of. Another day, another time, things could have turned out entirely differently. I couldn’t be happier if people learn about the beauty of breaking – and not only about the gold medal.”
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