Australian breakdancer Raygun’s performance didn’t do so well on the Olympic scoreboard, but she became a sensation online
Australian breakdancer Raygun gave another performance ahead of the Olympics closing ceremony.
The 36-year-old became an online sensation after pulling some interesting moves in front of the judges during the breakdancing competition at the Paris Games.
Raygun performed at the Olympics. (Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Breaking was a new addition to the Olympics this year, with competitors showing off their creativity and athleticism.
Dancers were scored based on several factors of their performance, including creativity, personality, technique, variety, performativity, and musicality.
Unfortunately for Australian dancer Raygun, the points simply weren’t materializing this time, and the competitor ended up scoring zero across the board.
Raygun’s real name is Rachael Gunn – do you see what she did there? – and when she’s not breakdancing she’s a university lecturer at Macquarie University specialising in cultural studies.
But it seems Gunn hasn’t let her lack of points dampen her Olympic spirit, and has since performed again.
Raygun’s was commended by the Australian prime minister. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
The Olympian took to the stage in front of her fellow athletes from Team Australia to bust out her moves ahead of the closing ceremony on Sunday (August 11).
She was even lifted onto the shoulders of rower Angus Widdicombe, where she emulated her signature kangaroo move.
While Gunn didn’t score at all, her performance and sportsmanship has drawn her a lot of praise.
This even included Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese, who commended her for ‘having a go’.
He said: “Raygun had a crack, good on her, and a big shout out to her.
“That is in the Australian tradition of people having a go. She’s had a go representing our country, and that’s a good thing.”
Albanese added: “Whether they’ve won gold medals or just done their best, that’s all we asked for. It’s the participating that is really important.”
Gunn herself acknowledged that she didn’t think she would be able to compete with the other dancers who were in the running on the ‘power moves’.
She said: “I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best – their power moves. What I bring is creativity.”
Unfortunately the attention also saw Gunn targeted by trolls on social media, and her own channels went quiet.
The breaking federation said that mental health support had been offered to Gunn in the wake of the trolling.
Competition judge MGbility also spoke out to defend the dancer, telling News Corp: “I feel personally very sorry. The breaking and hip hop community definitely stands behind her. She was just trying to bring something new, something original and something that represents her country.
“We stay with her. Just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors.
“Again, we’re using a comparative judging system. Her competitors were just better but it doesn’t mean that she did really bad. She did her best.”
