Breakdancing made its Olympic debut, though it has been steeped in controversy.
Raygun will go down as the most successful troll in Olympics history. How she pulled off this nonsense to be an Olympian representing her country in something she has zero talent or skill in needs a documentary. I wanna hear her story. #Raygun pic.twitter.com/oPTmuUL0s0
— JaMarrio Velaryon (@Hthemagnificent) August 12, 2024
Many slammed the category for its lack of diversity, especially since breaking was launched in New York thanks to hip-hop. However, another aspect of the competition was the quirky dance moves, specifically demonstrated by Australian B-Girl Raygun, whose real name is Dr. Rachael Gunn. She was the topic of social media jokes, much of which were centered around her floor moves.
Raygun will go down as the most successful troll in Olympics history. How she pulled off this nonsense to be an Olympian representing her country in something she has zero talent or skill in needs a documentary. I wanna hear her story. #Raygun pic.twitter.com/oPTmuUL0s0
— JaMarrio Velaryon (@Hthemagnificent) August 12, 2024
Some of her fellow breakers called for the backlash to end. Even singer Adele called the odd competition “ f**king fantastic.” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also shared his support for Gunn, claiming her performance was rooted in culture.
@the_jenshow Adele talking Olympics…and her favorite sport…the breakdancing. 🤣 #adele #adeleinmunich #olympics #breakdancing #raygun #australia @Adele Access
“(It’s an) Australian tradition of people having a go. She’s had a go representing our country, and that’s a good thing,” he explained.
Gunn was defeated in all three rounds of the inaugural Olympic sport, going against breakers from the USA, France, and Lithuania. This has sparked a new theory. Sports administrator Megan Davis now believes Gunn purposely put on a less-than-stellar show. According to Davis, her motive was strictly to receive school funding, not to demonstrate her skills. Davis revealed that Gunn received government aid to study breakdancing in college.
“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,’” Davis explained on social media, adding that Gunn’s routine was “disrespectful” to other competitors.
Gunn reportedly received a public grant in November 2022, a one-year installment of $20,278, to lead a research study group called “Spaces for Street Dance” at Macquarie University, the Daily Mail confirms.
She ended up at the Olympics by winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2024. Gunn competed at the World Championships in Paris in 2021, Seoul in 2022, and Belgium last year. Gunn completed all of this while studying the dance art and teaching.
Unfortunately, due to the harsh criticism received worldwide, the Olympics have ruled that breaking will not be included in the 2028 Games. However, organizers maintain they’d already determined breakdancing wouldn’t be in the future Olympics.
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