Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics, generating significant buzz among spectators. Team USA’s Victor Montalvo, Sunny Choi, Logan Edra, and Jeffrey Louis represented the United States, but it was Australia’s B-Girl Rachael Gunn, popularly known as “Raygun,” who captured the spotlight.
The 36-year-old athlete competed against Edra, Lithuania’s Dominika Banevič, and France’s Sya Dembélé in the breaking competition held on August 9. While Japan’s Ami Yuasa claimed the gold medal, Banevič won silver and China’s Liu Qingyi took home the bronze. Despite finishing in 16th place, Raygun’s unique moves quickly went viral, especially one dubbed the “kangaroo,” a nod to her Australian roots. Another notable viral move was her backward roll with a side pose and a sprinkling of flair.
On social media, users expressed admiration for Raygun’s performance. One user tweeted, “Raygun from Australia is my Olympic hero,” while another called for her to be the flag bearer at the Closing Ceremony. Many commented on her moves, with one posting, “Give Raygun the gold right now,” and another highlighting the impressive clips being shared.
After her captivating performances, Raygun shared an inspiring quote on Instagram: “Don’t be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that’s gonna take you.” She later expressed her anticipation for the next day’s b-boy outfits, which also sparked discussions online.
Raygun is not just a talented dancer; she is also a professor at Sydney’s Macquarie University, where she teaches Cultural Studies and holds a Ph.D. in the subject. Many of her students were surprised to learn of her Olympic aspirations. She has competed in the World Breaking Championships for Australia in recent years, earning a rank of 64 out of 80 breakers.
To qualify for the Olympics, Raygun dedicated herself to intense preparation, creating multiple routines to ensure she was ready for any challenge. Having danced since childhood, her journey into breaking began later, introduced by her then-boyfriend, now husband and coach, when she was 20. Over the years, she has refined her style to focus on creativity rather than sheer power.
With breaking’s inclusion in the Olympics, Raygun hopes to inspire future generations to embrace the dance style that she believes has been underrated in Australia. “We’re inspiring a whole new generation of people to get into breaking,” she said, expressing her excitement about sharing the culture and sport with others.