“Never did I think that breaking in the Olympics would ever be a thing and that I would ever potentially be at the Olympics.” Rachael “Raygun” Gunn catapulted into the spotlight by securing the first-ever Olympic spot in the B-Girl competition at the French capital. The world anticipated breakdancing’s inclusion as a sport on the world’s biggest stage. As dreamy as this opportunity was, it soon turned out to be sheep in wolf’s clothing for the 37-year-old. 

The Aussie participated in three battles in the City of Light but crashed and burned when she didn’t win or score any points. She gained popularity with her infamous ‘kangaroo’ move on the dancefloor. While it caused quite a stir, it also opened the floodgates regarding several concerns about her skills or contention on the world’s biggest stage. After causing quite a stir on social media, the university lecturer stepped away from the limelight. Upon her return, things still seem to have stayed the same. What really happened? 

Rachael Gunn calls it quits on her professional career

The Aussie nabbed a spot on the Olympic stage by clinching a victory at the WDSF Oceania Championship. Unfortunately, the scrutiny she received after her performance left her gutted. On November 6, she appeared on Australia’s 2DayFM “The Jimmy and Nath Show,” opening up about her experience in the French capital. When asked if dancing was still a part of her life, Raygun revealed, “I still break, but I don’t compete. I’m not gonna compete anymore.” 

What could have possibly motivated her to retire? Even though the 37-year-old enjoys dancing with her partner at home, her gut-wrenching experience in the City of Light played a massive part in this decision. “I think the level of scrutiny that’s going to be there and the people who will be filming it and it’ll go online.” She added that dancing should be fun and make one feel good. No one should have to deal with negative feedback on how they dance.

But Rachael Gunn wasn’t offered the same grace. Undeterred, the break-dancer unveiled a new challenge on October 31. The Aussie stands by her routine in the French capital. In fact, according to the WDSF rankings, she is currently the #1 break-dancing athlete in the world. So what’s the challenge, you ask? She stated that whoever can beat her routine will receive a massive cash prize of $10,000. Even though she’s added a fun spin, her retirement has only added more fuel to the fire. What do the fans have to say?

Fans refuse to let the move past her Paris Olympics experience

It’s true what they say—the internet truly never forgets. The 37-year-old’s unconventional routine caught everyone’s eye. Decked out in a Team Australia tracksuit, she showcased never-seen-before moves like the sprinkler and the hopping kangaroo. But fans worldwide weren’t amused then, and they’re certainly not amused now.

One fan stated, “She will be missed… by no one.” Raygun became an internet sensation overnight, but for all the wrong reasons. Another fan agreed, “Pretty sure people are ok with that. She had to know how bad that was. I am sure she saw same videos.” Momentarily after the breakdancing leg of the Games concluded, several people shared memes and clips of her routine on social media. 

Many questioned if she had danced before. However, the Aussie is a former jazz and ballroom dancer. So, how did she get into breakdancing? Her husband had been a B-boy for 10 years and introduced her to the sport when she was in her mid-20s. Given how she always found joy in the sport, the 37-year-old decided to trudge on with his support.

A fan pointed out, “They eliminated the entire event after her performance, it’s not exactly her choice.” While the sport was a part of the 2024 Olympics, it won’t make a return for LA 2028, although that had little to do with her performance. Another fan ruthlessly added, “I think the Olympics vowed to never let her compete in anything TBO.” With its exclusion from the Games, many took digs at her, indirectly putting the onus of this decision on the Aussie. 

Breakdancing was previously part of the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. So, the Paris committee decided to introduce it as a new urban sport for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, long before Rachael Gunn stepped onto the stage, the Los Angeles Olympic organizers decided to exclude the sport back in 2023. It was never because of what took place in the French capital.

One fan exclaimed, “But how will the games go on without her?!” They sarcastically pointed out how the Games were a huge success because of the debacle in Paris. But another fan was simply confused: “Wait…..she was considering another go at it? 🤣🤣🤣” Raygun has been contesting in the sport since the last decade. Yet, no one could fathom watching her on the world’s biggest stage again. 

Rachael Gunn dealt with a slew of comments shortly after the Games. While she expressed gratitude for the positive reactions, she reiterated how she wasn’t expecting a backlash. Yet, her stance regarding the performance remained crystal clear. The Aussie revealed that she took her contention seriously and looked forward to having fun. But this shouldn’t take away from the fact that she worked incredibly hard for the Games and gave it her best. However, the experience has left a sour taste in Raygun’s mouth, and she chose to step away from it. Do you agree with the fans?