Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn has apologised after facing backlash for her performance at the recent Olympic Games.
The 37-year-old became an internet sensation when she competed at the Paris Games in breakdancing, one of four newly introduced sports.
Gunn was knocked out of the round-robin stage of the B-girls (break-girls) competition with zero points — but her unusual moves captured the world’s attention.
These included hopping around like a kangaroo, grabbing her chin, and flapping around on stage in front of the judges as she went head-to-head with another B-girl.
However, her unorthodox performance attracted a mixture of praise and ridicule.
She spoke to Network Ten’s The Project about the response she had received.
Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn tells us what she thought of the Jimmy Fallon sketch. pic.twitter.com/vzclWzXqvc
— The Project (@theprojecttv) September 4, 2024
“It is really sad to hear those criticisms,” the lecturer in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language and Literature at Macquarie University Faculty of Arts told host Waleed Aly.
“And I am very sorry for the backlash that the community has experienced, but I can’t control how people react.”
Gunn also explained that having people chase her left her in a “state of panic”.
But, when asked if she was Australia’s best female breakdancer, she said: “I think my record speaks to that.”
She previously addressed her evocative performance on social media.
She said in August: “I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me. I really appreciate the positivity, and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives.
“That’s what I hoped. I didn’t realise that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has, frankly, been pretty devastating.”
“Well, I went out there and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off preparing for the Olympics, and I gave my all,” she added.
Breakdancing originated as a counterculture dance form from the US and is associated with the hip-hop community.
It is competitively known as breaking and joined skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing in making its debut at the 2024 Olympic Games.
However, some critics questioned breaking’s role as an Olympic sport following Gunn’s performance.
Another standout moment from the breaking competition was the disqualification of Afghan athlete Manizha Talash, who wore a cape that said “free Afghan women”.
The refugee Olympian, who defied most odds to secure her spot at the Games, lost her position because she displayed a ‘political’ message during the games.
Breaking won’t appear as a sport at the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
While some people on the internet suggested that Raygun may have caused this, Esquire reported that local organisers choose Olympic sports much earlier.
