Australia might not have had a great Olympic season, but one of their own made quite the entry into the world stage. And that too on the breaking floor! The 2024 Paris Olympics brought breaking into the Olympics for the first time, and representing Australia was B-girl Rachael “Raygun” Gunn! Fortunately or unfortunately, Raygun’s moves moved from the floor to online scrutiny real quick.

Soon after Raygun’s performance, there was a storm of unfortunate aftermath that hit her. During her performance, she made a few interesting moves, including the kangaroo hops and quirky slides. The moment that should have had the weight of legacy on its shoulders went on to become a moment for countless memes. With absolutely no ado, Raygun was soon the center of a media frenzy. So it is no wonder that soon after her virality hit its peak, rumors of her possible future reality TV started going around.

No reality TV adventures for Raygun!

Well, it’s a thanks, but no thanks from Raygun! It was not long ago that there were rumors in the air about her possibly joining in on ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’. Raygun was rather quick to shut the rumors down once and for all. Her reason? She’s done enough reality—thank you very much. As Raygun herself puts it, “No, I will not be going into the jungle. I just don’t think reality TV is a good fit for me.” Oops, does it have anything to do with the aftermath of Paris?

Well, of course, it does. Raygun, after all, has experienced the downfalls of fame rooted in virality. It is not easy to forget the moment that Raygun turned into an internet villain overnight. While there were many who loved her performance, the majority were trolls and memes. She went on to add, “I have a very ‘memeable face, as we’ve seen. There’s been some amazing memes that have come out, and I just don’t think reality TV is the space for me.” But that was not the only reason she stepped back.

The memes might have been tolerable for Raygun, but the internet questioned her integrity, too! There was even a petition on Change.org that falsely accused her of “setting up her own governing body” and manipulating the qualifying process. If you thought that was the worst of it, there was a niche pod of scrutiny that went on to question her qualifications, too!

Raygun’s choice to step back from breaking and not performing might just be her way of protecting herself from further unwanted scrutiny. As Raygun herself puts it, “I’m going to focus on things where I can really bring joy and to try and encourage people to be creative.” Right on, Rachael “Raygun” Gunn! Before her journey of creativity away from competition begins, she has decided to face the scrutiny head-on.

Amidst it all, Raygun has an open challenge for the world!

Don’t assume that Raygun is stepping away from TV to avoid the public, no, no! She is instead flipping the script to make it her win. Welcome to the Raygun Challenge! Raygun has shifted her perspective on the trolling and decided to take it in stride. She has called for an open dare to all her critics. “I’ve heard some of you can do better than me,” she teases in a recent Instagram reel. So, what is this reel about?

Well, Raygun has called out dancers from around the globe to put on their dancing shoes and show their best moves. Talk about a comeback! Raygun has collaborated with Finder and launched the challenge for the breakers out there. And it’s no ordinary challenge. And You know what? The winner will win some serious money!

The best solo dancer will get $5,000, and the best crew will get $10,000. With the Raygun Challenge in full swing, it seems she’s found a creative way to own her internet fame. So, for all those who think they can “do better,” Raygun’s waiting for you. And as for the rest of us, sit back and enjoy the Raygun show. It has only just begun.