Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known in the breaking world as B-girl Raygun, has announced her retirement from competitive breaking.
This decision follows the viral response to her performance at the Paris Olympics, where Gunn, a 37-year-old university lecturer, failed to score in all three rounds.
Her unconventional routine, featuring moves like the “sprinkler” and “kangaroo hop,” quickly became a global sensation, sparking both ridicule and conspiracy theories around her Olympic qualification.
Initially, Gunn intended to continue competing but shared on local radio station 2DayFM that the negative reaction to her Olympic performance had been deeply upsetting.
“I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was,” she explained.
She also cited concerns about increased scrutiny and the inevitability of her future performances being filmed and shared online.
Gunn faced a torrent of harsh online criticism post-Olympics, even receiving violent messages.
An anonymous petition falsely accused her and her husband of manipulating her Olympic selection, demanding an apology.
Though Olympic officials defended her, her performance divided the breaking community, with some feeling it undermined the art and sport of breaking.
The backlash reignited debate over breaking’s place in the Olympics. Breaking debuted as an Olympic sport in Paris but is not included in the lineup for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
Critics argue that breaking’s expressive and creative nature does not align with the structured format of Olympic competition.
Reflecting on the experience, Gunn noted that the public scrutiny had taken the joy out of breaking for her, a sentiment she had previously expressed.
“Dancing is so much fun, and it makes you feel good,” she said. “I don’t think people should feel crap about the way that they dance.”
Also read: Christina Milian Embraces A New Life In France With Husband Matt Pokora And
