Remember B-girl Raygun? If not, you might recall her from the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she went viral with some seriously unique moves—like a kangaroo hop and a floor wriggle—that had the internet buzzing. She became an overnight sensation for her unconventional style. But a few months later, the rumor mills started swirling that Raygun was retiring, with headlines everywhere claiming, “Raygun is retiring!” However, when she appeared on The Project TV last week, she quickly shut that down, saying she won’t ever use the word “retire” because she’s not done dancing.

That said, Raygun did hint at stepping back recently. In an interview with 2DayFM, she admitted that the intense scrutiny and backlash she faced after the Olympics made her seriously consider retiring. “I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was,” she explained. The constant pressure and online attention really got to her, and it made her question whether she could continue competing. “It’s going to be really difficult to keep doing this,” she said. These days, she still practices breaking, but it’s just with her partner at home, away from the spotlight.

But in the latest interview on The Today Show, Raygun cleared everything up. She said her earlier comments were taken out of context, and she’s definitely not retiring. “It’s not a decision that I came to; this turned into a story,” she explained. She was talking about stepping back from certain competitions, especially with breaking no longer in the Olympics, but that doesn’t mean she’s walking away.

“I’m still going to be part of community jams, still dance, still break,” Raygun said. “I never used the word retire—I’m not retiring.” She even joked, “You try and stop me; I’m not ever going to stop dancing.” It seems like Raygun isn’t going away soon. There are still plenty of tricks up her sleeve to impress the world! Despite her state of contentment, she now finds peace of mind in a favorable environment. During the Olympics event, she became a global laughingstock, with her routine turning into viral memes that mocked her every move.

Raygun’s shocking redemption story

Raygun faced mockery worldwide following her performance at the Paris Olympics with a routine inspired by kangaroos during the debut of Breaking as an event that did not unfold as intended for her. Her unique dance moves were subject to ridicule. Even her tracksuit became a source of jest while devoted breaking enthusiasts raised doubts about her selection for the team. However, when the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) bestowed upon her the title of the female break dancer globally, Raygun found solace in this recognition.

Raygun claimed the top position in the WDSF rankings by emerging victorious at the Oceania Continental Championship. However, this significant victory served as a boost for her, especially in light of the criticism she had faced after her performance at the Olympics.

Since her 2024 Olympics performance, which turned her into a viral meme, Raygun has reflected on the overwhelming attention and pressure she faced. “I didn’t expect to do well at the Olympics,” she admitted. “As soon as I qualified, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, what have I done?’ I knew I was going to get beaten, and I knew people wouldn’t understand my style.” She also expressed regret for the backlash the breakdancing community received, acknowledging that she couldn’t control how others reacted to her performance.

Despite the memes and criticism, Raygun found support from fellow Olympians. Looking back on the whole experience, she said, “It kind of feels like a really weird dream… What is life right now?” Undoubtedly, Raygun has turned those tough moments into motivation, proving that no amount of online ridicule can stop her passion for dance.