Athletes are back with their loved ones following the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympics, but no one received as much attention upon landing on home soil as Rachel Gunn, known as "Raygun." The 36-year-old Australian breakdancer joined a handful of her peers to compete in the first-ever breakdancing competition at this year's Olympics. It was a historic moment for the culture, emerging from the streets of New York City decades ago to an international stage.
It was a sight for Olympic fans across the globe, but Raygun stole attention for all the wrong reasons—and now, she's being blamed for breakdancing being cut from the Olympics lineup in Los Angeles. On August 9, Gunn showed off her moves in the B-Girl match, and it didn't take long for her to go viral . Viewers took to social media with clips and questions, especially after Gunn received no points and placed last.
Soon, it wasn't just commentators looking for an explanation on how Raygun made it to the Olympics; breakdancers and those immersed in the culture were also puzzled. Then, rumors and speculation of corruption and Raygun cheating her way into the Paris Olympics flooded the internet. This further thrust the university professor into infamy, but her country—and the Australian breaking organization AUSBreak—have come to her defense.
By her resumé alone, it is clear that Gunn has a passion for breakdancing. She not only received her doctorate in media, music, cultural studies, and communications at Macquarie.