An Australian Olympian participated in Paris 2024 in the breakdance category. She got criticized after a pathetic breakdown act was put on show.
Olympic breakdancer Dr. Rachael Gunn, known as “Raygun” in competition, has found herself at the center of controversy following her performance at the Paris Olympics. A leading sports official accused Gunn of aiming for “zero points on purpose” and being “disrespectful” to other Australian athletes.
Prime Minister Backs Gunn After Pathetic Breakdown Act
Despite the criticism, Gunn has received support from various quarters, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. The Prime Minister stated, “(It’s an) Australian tradition of people having a go. She’s had a go representing our country and that’s a good thing.”
Gunn lost all three round-robin battles 18-0, 18-0, 18-0 against the USA, France, and Lithuania at the Paris Olympics. Her unique style of breaking has since gone viral on social media. Fans also commented on Gunn’s uniform – an Australian Olympic tracksuit – which stood out among her competitors’ streetwear.
Academic Criticism
Professor Megan Davis, a pro vice chancellor at the University of New South Wales and a commissioner on the Australian Rugby League Commission, criticized Gunn’s performance.
Davis claimed on social media, “Getting zero points on purpose in three rounds for an academic study subsidized by the taxpayer both at a university and Olympic level isn’t funny and isn’t ‘having a go’. (It’s) disrespectful to other competitors. I’m glad most Aussies aren’t buying the Kool-Aid.”
Contrary to some claims, The Australian reported that Gunn’s only public funding came from the Australian Olympic Committee for travel to Paris. Additionally, the City of Sydney Council provided Gunn with a $20,278 grant in 2022 for research on “Spaces for Street Dance.”
Breaking Judge’s Perspective
Breaking head judge Martin Gilian, known as “MGbility,” defended Gunn’s performance, stating, “Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region. This is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo.”
He added, “But again, that doesn’t mean that she did really bad. She did her best. She won the Oceania qualifier. Unfortunately for her, the other B-girls were better.”
As the Paris Olympics come to a close, the debate surrounding Gunn’s performance continues, highlighting the complexities of judging. And appreciating new Olympic sports like breaking.
Image by France Olympique on Flickr
