Olympic breakdancer Raygun, also known as Rachael Gunn, has stirred up social media with her unconventional debut at the Paris 2024 Games. Representing Australia, Gunn competed against b-girls from the US, France, and Lithuania. Her performance, marked by unusual “kangaroo moves,” diverged from the high expectations many had for the event, which faced skepticism about breaking’s inclusion in the Olympics.
Despite the often liberated and free-spirited nature of breakdancing, Gunn’s routine was memorable for its eccentricity, leading to her finishing without scoring any points. Her debut has become a viral sensation, attracting mockery online. Some social media users have even compared her “kangaroo hop” to Julia Stiles’ dance from the 2001 film *Save the Last Dance*.
I want Raygun, the 36 year old Australian breakdancer possessed by the spirit of Julia Stiles in Save the Last Dance, to know that I am now her biggest fan and she should never stop doing whatever it is she’s trying to do pic.twitter.com/pNeSMzBmPN
— No. 1 Pickleball Anti (@shelbyboring) August 10, 2024
On X, formerly Twitter, one user expressed their admiration for Raygun, saying, “I want Raygun, the 36-year-old Australian breakdancer possessed by the spirit of Julia Stiles in *Save the Last Dance*, to know that I am now her biggest fan and she should never stop doing whatever it is she’s trying to do.”
Others speculated that Gunn might have been intentionally underperforming. “If this Raygun lady turns out to be a comedian who somehow blagged her way through qualifiers and all the way to the Olympics, and was bad on purpose, it will be one of the greatest bits ever achieved,” another user commented.
Obsessed with Raygun because I identify with the level of dorkiness she projects https://t.co/M2Y5MA2gL5 pic.twitter.com/xS4YVJMXRN
— 🕶sara🕶 (@minnesara) August 9, 2024
Netizens were particularly astonished to learn that Raygun is considered Australia’s “top breaker.” One user questioned the authenticity of her performance, writing, “The kangaroo move — how did she make it this far?! She should’ve swapped the kangaroo for a banana to really stand out. What is this? Seriously, is breakdancing really an Olympic event?”
Conversely, another user resonated with Raygun’s “level of dorkiness,” expressing sympathy for her unique style.
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Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, is Australia’s first breakdancing Olympian. At 36 years old, she gained internet fame as B-girl Raygun, competing in the Breaking B-Girls Round Robin Group B battle against USA’s Logistx, France’s Syssy, and Lithuania’s Nicka on August 9 at La Concorde.
Gunn’s professional background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Music (2009) and a PhD in Cultural Studies (2017) from Macquarie University in Sydney. Born on September 2, 1987, she began breakdancing in her mid-20s, transitioning from jazz and ballroom dancing. She also works as a university lecturer in Sydney’s Department of Media, Communication, Creative Arts, Language and Literature, where she focuses on “the cultural politics of breaking,” as noted in her Macquarie University bio.
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In addition to her 2024 Olympic appearance, Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, was the top-ranked b-girl in Australia for 2020 and 2021. She has represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris (2021), Seoul (2022), and Leuven (2023), and won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.
Raygun’s husband, Samuel Free, is also a notable breakdancer and coach who introduced her to the sport. With a decade of experience in breakdancing, Free and Gunn, who married in 2018, share a deep passion for the art form.
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Despite facing significant ridicule on social media, Rachael Gunn remains resilient and focused on her performance philosophy. She has chosen to embrace the situation with a positive mindset, as reflected in a quote from October 2023: “I’m just going to try and savour it and enjoy it and let my body take over.”
In an August 2024 interview with ESPN, Gunn addressed her unique style, stating, “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best — their power moves. What I bring is creativity.” She emphasized that her moves are “original” and that she prioritizes “creativity” over conventional techniques. “I go out there, and I show my artistry. 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.”
Australia’s chef de mission, Anna Meares, also supported Gunn, highlighting the challenges she faced in a male-dominated sport. “In 2008, she was locked in a room crying being involved in a male-dominated sport as the only woman, and it took great courage for her to continue on and fight for her opportunity to participate in a sport that she loved,” Meares said, as reported by ESPN. “That got her to winning the Olympic qualifying event to be here in Paris. She is the best breakdancer female that we have for Australia.”