Olympics star Raygun hits out at breakdancing being dropped from games after she scored zero
Olympic breakdancer Raygun has hit out at the decision to axe the competition from the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
Raygun - real name Rachael Gunn - performed in the category's Olympics debut earlier this month, with her routine scoring a grand total of zero points and going viral online for all the wrong reasons.
Despite the backlash, the Australian dancer has stood by her performance, as well as the argument that dancing should be represented at the games.
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Prior to the breakdancing events even taking place at La Concorde arena, it was confirmed that the sport had been axed from the LA '28 Games, and Gunn was very disappointed by the news.
"It was disappointing it was decided that it wouldn’t be in LA, particularly before we even had a chance to show it," Gunn said earlier this month.
"That was possibly a little premature. I wonder if they’re kicking themselves now?"
She continued: "What is an Olympic sport? What are the similarities between dressage and artistic swimming and the 100m sprint and the pentathlon?
"Breaking is clearly athletic, it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects. It’s really bringing a new level of excitement."
Gunn competed in three of the women's breaking battles at Paris 2024, scoring zero points for each of her performances.
The 36-year-old's performance was particularly slated online for moves such as kangaroo hops and writhing around on the floor, with viewers comparing her routine to children's dances.
However, Gunn - who is the cultural politics of breakdancing at Sydney's Macquarie University - refused to let the hate get to her, saying after her performance: "All my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry."
She added: "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."
Breaking judge MGbility - real name Martin Gilian - has since responded to the decision to award Gunn zero points, explaining that it was only because her competitors performed better on the day.
"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," MGbility said.
"We stay with her. We have five criteria in the comparative judging system. Just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors.
"Again, we're using a comparative judging system. Her competitors were just better but it doesn't mean that she did really bad. She did her best."
Brenna Cooper