Raygun Announces Her Exit From The Breakdancing World As Olympic Backlash Continues

The competitive breakdancing world was stunned today as Australian star Raygun, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, announced she would be stepping away from the sport following intense backlash over her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The 37-year-old dancer, known for her one-of-a-kind style that captivated global audiences, faced significant online criticism for the distinctive approach she brought to the Olympic breakdancing event in Paris this past August.

Going viral for her unique routine, Raygun revealed on Wednesday, November 6, that the public reaction had taken its toll, leading her to leave competitive dancing behind.

Over recent months, her Olympic performance has drawn both fascination and controversy, ultimately resulting in her decision to exit the competitive breakdancing scene.

“I’m not going to compete anymore, no,” Raygun said on the Australian radio show 2DayFM. “I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems really difficult for me to do now to approach a battle.”

“Yeah, I mean I still dance, and I still break. But, you know, that’s like in my living room with my partner," she added. “It’s been really upsetting. I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was.”

Clips of Raygun’s performance at the Paris Olympics have flooded social media, with her unique moves sparking viral reactions from viewers around the world. Her routine, featuring unconventional elements such as toe touches while lying on her side, smooth floor slides, and the now-iconic kangaroo jump, garnered widespread attention online.

As The Blast reported, Rachael "Raygun" Gunn faced allegations on social media claiming that she and her husband, Samuel Free, used their supposed positions in the Australian Breaking Association to manipulate the Olympic selection process and secure her spot at the Paris Games.

Following the accusations, she firmly denied them, expressing disappointment over the misinformation surrounding her place in the Games.

“I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating,” she said in an Instagram video at the time. “While, I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off, preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all truly."

"I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic Team and to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut," Raygun concluded.

The Sydney Morning Herald has since refuted these claims, clarifying that Raygun and Free were not founders or leaders of the association. Instead, the organization was founded by Lowe Napalan, another prominent figure in the Australian breaking community.

"The selection process for Australia's Breaking team heading to Paris was conducted over two days, and open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region," the Australian breaking organization AUSBreak said in a statement. "Adhering to World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) regulations, which align with International Olympic Committee (IOC) standards, the process aimed to ensure a fair and transparent outcome."

"Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day," AUSBreak added in its statement.

Amid the backlash following her 2024 Olympic performance, chief breaking judge Martin Gilian, also known as MGbility, came to Raygun's defense, applauding her courage and unique style.

“It’s all about originality and it’s all about bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region," he said, per CNN. "This is exactly what Raygun was doing, she got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."

"She created some original moves which could be maybe funny or entertaining for others, but for us, she basically represented breaking and hip hop," Gilian added.

The Olympian recently swapped her athletic polo uniform for a high-fashion look in a cover shoot for Stellar, an Australian magazine.

In a striking aqua-blue dress paired with strappy sandals, she exudes glamour—a dramatic contrast to the green-and-yellow breaking outfit she sported during her Olympic debut.

Next to her, the words, “You did not bring me down. You did not succeed. I still stand by what I did," are written, seemingly directed at the hate she has received for her performance.