Rachael Gunn, the Australian breakdancer known as Raygun, is speaking out after her 2024 Paris Olympics performance went viral and was mocked both online and off.
Gunn, a 36-year-old college professor with a Ph.D. in cultural studies, said in a new video posted on Instagram Thursday that the “hate” she has received has been “devastating.”
“I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. I really appreciate the positivity, and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Gunn said in the video, her first since competing in Paris. “I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.”
Gunn did not earn a medal in Paris, where she competed against fellow b-girls in their late teens and early 20s.
After losing her three round-robin battles by a score of 54-0, Gunn’s unique dance moves quickly became the focus of memes and jokes on social media.
Raygun of Australia in action during the Paris 2024 Olympics in Paris on Aug. 9, 2024.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
On social media, some users dubbed one move by Gunn “the kangaroo,” while others compared her dance moves to when a child asks you to watch their performance.
“I’d like to personally thank Raygun for making millions of people worldwide think ‘huh, maybe I can make the Olympics too,'” one user wrote on X, alongside a photo of Raygun’s Olympic performance.
The criticisms online against Gunn also included unsubstantiated claims that she had manipulated the selection process to make it to Paris, where breaking was included for the first time in Olympic history.
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In her new video, Gunn defended herself against those claims, calling them “allegations” and “misinformation.”
“While I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously,” she said. “I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and I gave my all, truly.”
She continued, “I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team, and to be part of breaking Olympic debut. What the other athletes have achieved has just been phenomenal.”
Gunn also directed her followers to statements made by the Australian Breaking Organization and the Australian Olympic Committee defending her selection and performance in Paris.
In 2023, Gunn won the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney to earn Australia’s first-ever spot in the b-girl competition at the Olympics, according to her Olympic bio.
“The Oceania Olympic selection event (The QMS 2023 WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships) in October 2023 brought together the top Breakers, both Bgirls and Bboys. A panel of 9 international adjudicators, a head judge and a chairperson who oversaw the competition, using the same judging system at the Paris Games and trained to uphold the highest standards of impartiality. These judges are all highly respected in their respective communities and in the international Breaking scene,” the Australian Breaking Organization said in an Aug. 13 statement shared on its website. “Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris. Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day.”
Australia’s Chef de Mission, Anna Meares, issued public support for Gunn on Aug. 10, in a news conference.
“I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing,” Meares told reporters, according to ESPN. “Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage. I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has.”
The following day, on Aug. 11, the head judge of the breaking competition in Paris defended Gunn, while the head of the World DanceSport Federation said officials are looking out for her “mental safety” after the online criticism.
“Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region,” head judge Martin Gilian said at a press conference, according to The Associated Press. “This is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo.”
Raygun of Australia in action during the Paris 2024 Olympics in Paris on Aug. 9, 2024.
Angelika Warmuth/Reuters
Sergey Nifontov, general secretary of the World DanceSport Federation, added of Gunn’s mental health, according to the AP, “We offered (the) support of our safe-guarding officer. We are aware about what has happened, especially on social media, and definitely we should put the safety of the athlete, in this case, mental safety in first place. She has us as a federation supporting her.”
Gunn said she is taking “pre-planned downtime” in Europe following the Olympics, and asked for privacy for her family and friends.
“I’d really like to ask the press to please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community and the broader street dance community,” Gunn said. “Everyone has been through a lot as a result of this, so I ask you to please respect their privacy.”
When not breaking, Gunn is a researcher and lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney, where she studies the “the cultural politics of breaking,” according to her university biography.
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Raygun, the breakdancer who captivated audiences with her electrifying performance at the Olympics, is speaking out about the negative feedback she has received since her video went viral.
The talented dancer, whose real name is Rachel Gunn, wowed viewers with her high-energy routine that seamlessly blended elements of hip-hop and contemporary dance. Her performance was hailed as a groundbreaking moment for breakdancing, which made its debut as an Olympic sport at the Tokyo Games.
However, not everyone was impressed with Raygun’s performance. Some critics took to social media to criticize her style, claiming that it was too flashy and lacked the technical precision of other competitors. Others accused her of pandering to the judges with her over-the-top theatrics.
In response to the backlash, Raygun took to Instagram to address her critics. In a heartfelt post, she explained that she had poured her heart and soul into her performance and was disappointed by the negativity she had received.
“I understand that not everyone will appreciate my style of dance, and that’s okay,” Raygun wrote. “But I want to remind everyone that dance is a form of self-expression, and we should celebrate the diversity of styles and techniques that make up this art form.”
Raygun’s words struck a chord with many in the dance community, who rallied behind her in support. Dancers from around the world shared their own stories of facing criticism and adversity in their careers, and praised Raygun for her bravery in speaking out.
Despite the negative feedback, Raygun remains undeterred in her passion for dance. She continues to train tirelessly, pushing herself to new heights and striving to perfect her craft.
As breakdancing continues to gain recognition as a legitimate sport, it is important to remember that there is room for all styles and interpretations of the art form. Raygun’s performance may not have pleased everyone, but it undeniably brought attention to the beauty and athleticism of breakdancing.
In the end, Raygun’s message is clear: dance is about more than just technical skill or flashy moves. It is about passion, creativity, and individuality. And as long as she continues to dance from the heart, she will always be a winner in our eyes.
