Viral Olympic Breakdance Earned Zero Points | Now Breakdancing Is No Longer In Olympics!
In a surprising twist at the Paris Olympics, Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, also known by her stage name ‘RayGun,’ made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Breakdancing made its debut in the Olympics 2024 as a sport. 36-year-old Raygun from Sydney represented Australia and her viral Olympic breakdance earned zero points. Gunn’s performance, which included moves like kangaroo hopping, slithering like a snake, and even the iconic Aussie ‘sprinkler’ dance, left the judges unimpressed.
While Gunn’s creativity was on full display, the unusual nature of her dance moves quickly went viral. Many questioned whether Gunn’s performance was more about making a statement than competing. As it turns out, Gunn is not just a breakdancer—she’s also a lecturer at Sydney’s Macquarie University with a PhD in cultural studies. Even though breakdancing made its debut this year, it will not be going forward as a sport even in the LA Olympics 2028. Let’s dive in for the details.
Who is Rachael Gunn?
Rachael Gunn, better known as RayGun, is more than just a breakdancer. She is an academic with a deep interest in the cultural politics surrounding breaking (another term for breakdancing). Gunn earned her PhD in cultural studies and currently serves as a lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney. Her research focuses on the intersections of gender, culture, and performance, exploring how these elements play out in breakdancing.
Gunn is not new to the breakdancing scene. She was Australia’s top-ranked female breakdancer, or bgirl, in 2020 and 2021. Her experience includes competing in prestigious international competitions such as the World Breaking Championships in Paris, Seoul, and Leuven. In 2023, Gunn qualified for the Olympics by winning the Oceania Breaking Championships in Australia.
The Controversial Performance
Gunn’s Olympic performance was nothing short of unconventional. Her dance moves, which were inspired by Australian icons like the kangaroo, left audiences both puzzled and intrigued. The judges, however, did not share this sentiment.
Gunn lost all three of her round-robin battles with a score of 54-0. The Olympic breakdancing competition uses a scoring system that evaluates elements like technique, originality, and musicality. Unfortunately, Gunn’s creative approach did not resonate with the judges.
“What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative — that’s my strength, my creativity. I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage.”
Rachael Gunn in a news conference with ESPN on Saturday
Public and Expert Reactions
The public reaction to Gunn’s performance was mixed, with a significant amount of backlash on social media. Memes and critiques flooded platforms, with many questioning the seriousness of her performance. Some speculated that Gunn was using her Olympic platform for academic purposes rather than athletic competition.
Podcaster Hannah Berrelli and CUNY sociology professor Devrim Yavuz were among those who voiced such concerns. Berrelli suggested that Gunn’s performance was a “subversive point” that she could later use for academic papers, while Yavuz speculated that Gunn’s performance might have been an academic “breaching experiment” or a form of performance art.
“This whole episode is demonstrative of the supreme selfishness of woke identity politics studies. Her little stunt diminishes Australia on the world stage. Hundreds of Australian athletes who will have dedicated their entire lives to athletic excellence will be forgotten, because Rachael wanted to bulk up her ResearchGate profile.“
Podcaster Hannah Berrelli
SkyNews editor Jack Houghton echoed these sentiments, arguing that Gunn might have planned to turn her Olympic performance into a scholarly paper.
The Academic Debate: Art vs. Sport
Gunn’s academic perspective sheds light on her unusual Olympic performance. She has long argued that the inclusion of breakdancing in the Olympics could negatively affect the sport by commercializing and institutionalizing it. In her paper titled The Australian Breaking Scene and the Olympic Games: The Possibilities and Politics of Sportification, Gunn discusses how this commercialization could strip breakdancing of its spontaneity and self-determination, which are core to its roots in local communities and street culture.
Critics like Indigenous leader Megan Davis were not impressed by Gunn’s approach. Davis called Gunn’s performance a “disgrace,” arguing that getting zero points on purpose for an academic study was disrespectful to other competitors.
On the other hand, Gunn received support from figures like Chef de Mission Anna Meares. Meares praised Gunn’s courage and compared the backlash she faced to the historical misogynistic abuse directed at female athletes. Meares highlighted how far women have come in sports, noting that 100 years ago, no women represented Australia in the Paris 1924 Olympics, whereas today, 256 women are part of the Australian team.
The Aftermath: Legacy and Impact
The impact of Gunn’s performance on the public’s perception of breakdancing and the Olympics is likely to be long-lasting. Her decision to prioritize creativity over athleticism has sparked a broader conversation about the role of art and individuality in competitive sports. While some see Gunn’s actions as a misuse of the Olympic platform, others view it as a bold statement on the commercialization of breakdancing.
Gunn herself has hinted that she might write about her Olympic experience once she has “recovered.” Her father-in-law, Andrew Free, also weighed in, suggesting that the judges were partly to blame for her poor performance.
Meanwhile, the head judge of the breaking competition, Martin Gilian (known as MGbility), defended Gunn, stating that she embodied the spirit of breaking by bringing something original to the table. He also revealed that the breaking federation had offered Gunn mental health support in response to the backlash.
Conclusion
Rachael Gunn’s Olympic performance has highlighted the tension between artistic expression and athletic competition. While her approach was unconventional and controversial, it has sparked important discussions about the future of breakdancing as an Olympic sport. Whether viewed as a protest, an academic experiment, or simply a unique form of self-expression, Gunn’s performance has left a lasting mark on the world of sports and the ongoing debate over the commercialization of cultural practices.
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