How Australian breakdancer Raygun managed to qualify for Olympics before scoring zero in Paris
Many will be wondering just how Raygun managed to qualify for the Paris Olympics after she scored zero in three rounds of heats.
Breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known as 'Raygun' in her world, became a viral sensation after representing Australia in the Games on Friday (9 August).
The Sydney university lecturer, 36, failed to score a single point in the breakdancing competition as her routine consisted of hopping like a Kangaroo and writhing on the floor.
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Though one of the judges, MGbility (real name Martin Gilian), was a fan of her 'originality'.
"The breaking and hip hop community definitely stands behind her. She was just trying to bring something new, something original and something that represents her country," he told News Corp.
Raygun also admitted: "All my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry.
"Sometimes it speaks to the judges and sometimes it doesn’t.
"I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about."
Meanwhile, viewers are wondering how Gunn managed to qualify for the Olympics in the first place.
It seems that her moves in the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023 were replicated at the Games in Paris and it could have been what inspired her inclusion.
Gunn appeared to hold her own whilst competing against fellow breaker Molly in the final, winning 2-1.
Sadly, breakdancing will not be coming to the 2028 Games in LA after the Vice president of Breaking for Gold USA and USA Dance Zack Slusser said: "It was a miracle that we were even in Paris to begin with."
The good news is there is yet hope for it to be included in the Games in 2032.
This is Rachael Gunn, she has a PhD in cultural movement and convinced Australia to pay for her trip to the Paris Olympics.
— BowTiedMara (@BowTiedMara) August 10, 2024
She participated in break dancing and got 0 points.
🐐 😂pic.twitter.com/8PULsMBxxN
"Our campaign to be added to Brisbane 2032 has already begun and is being ably led by our first vice-president and resident Australian Tony Tilenni," WDSF President Shawn Tay said in a statement.
"Initial reactions from all participants to the breaking presentations, including Brisbane officials at the Australian Olympic Committee’s one year to go to Paris 2024 celebrations, have been highly optimistic about our chances of being added to these Games."
Top 10 performing Olympic nations
- USA - 126 medals (40 gold)
- China - 91 medals (40 gold)
- Japan - 45 medals (20 gold)
- Australia - 53 medals (18 gold)
- France - 64 medals (16 gold)
- Netherlands - 34 medals (15 gold)
- Great Britain - 65 medals (14 gold)
- South Korea - 32 medals (13 gold)
- Italy - 40 medals (12 gold)
- Germany - 33 medals (12 gold)
Anish Vij