HighlightsRachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn was ranked first in the World DanceSport Federation’s rankings despite scoring zero points at the 2024 Paris Olympics.Raygun’s unique moves like the snake jiggle and kangaroo hops were controversial, yet she topped the global ranking.Raygun, holding a PhD in Cultural Studies, spent her post-Olympic holidays with Virgin founder Richard Branson.
Despite performing a controversial routine, with many accusing the researcher in the cultural politics of breaking of overshadowing the discipline with her questionable moves, including a snake jiggle and kangaroo hops,Raygunemerged at the top.
After receiving a grand total of zero points from the judges in Paris, France, the Aussie dancer has been elevated to world number one in theWorld DanceSport Federation(WDSF)’s rankings, which is an international governing body for dance.
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Rachael “Raygun” Gunn was graded first place in the World DanceSport Federation’s rankings
Image credits:ausbreaking
In breakdancing, “B-girl” and “B-boy” are terms used to refer to female and male breakdancers, respectively.
The “B” stands for “break,” which comes from the breakbeats in music that dancers originally performed to. The terms were popularized in the 1970s when breakdancing (also known as breaking or b-boying/b-girling) emerged as a key element of hip-hop culture.
Image credits:Rene Nijhuis/BSR Agency/Getty Images
Both B-boys and B-girls showcase their skills through a variety of moves, including top rock (footwork performed while standing), down rock (moves performed on the floor), power moves (dynamic acrobatic moves), and freezes (holding a pose).
According toDr. Gunn‘s profile, she scored 1000 points when she won the WDSF Continental Championship in the 1vs1 B-Girls category in October last year.
Image credits:World Dance Sport Federation
Amid backlash emerging from her viral Olympic performance, Raygun, who holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and a BA in Contemporary Music from Macquarie University, has seemingly enjoyed her summer in Europe.
The post featured pictures of Raygun and her husband, Samuel Free, in addition to snaps with Virgin founder Richard Branson enjoying their time spent at what looks like a château somewhere in Europe.
Image credits:Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
A video posted to Instagram stories showed Raygun breakdancing with passengers on one of Richard’s Virgin Voyages cruises while the British business magnate imitated her infamous kangaroo hop pose.
In a surprising moment, a video showed Richard kneeling and groveling in front ofRaygunat a restaurant before getting up and kissing the Olympian’s hands.
This comes as pics of the athlete hanging out with the rich and famous shed new light on her
Image credits:raygun_aus
Other photos capturedRaygunand British singer Boy George sharing a backstage laugh. Moreover, footage showed the b-girl’s perspective from backstage while theKarma Chameleonhitmaker performed on stage.
Raygun lost all three round-robin battles representing Australia at the summer Olympics, scoring 18-0, 18-0, 18-0 against the USA, France, and Lithuania during breaking’s debut on August 9.
From her ridiculous ground-twitching moves to her Australian Olympic tracksuit, Raygun was both ruthlessly mocked and praised, as a person on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote: “If this Raygun lady turns out to be a comedian who somehow blagged her way through qualifiers and all the way to the Olympics, and was bad on purpose, it will be one of the greatest bits ever achieved.”
Amid growing criticism, Raygun took to her Instagram page, seemingly pointing togender bias, as she wrote: “Looking forward to the same level of scrutiny on what the bboys wear tomorrow.”
As per herMacquarie University profile, Raygun’s work draws on cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography.
Moreover, Raygun was the Australian Breaking Association’s top-ranked b-girl in 2020 and 2021, and she represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in Paris, France, in 2021, in Seoul, South Korea, in 2022, and in Leuven, Belgium, in 2023.
Raygun spent time with Virgin founder, Richard Branson
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Nevertheless,Raygun’s academic background sparked controversy, as Hannah Berreli, the editor for On The Woman Q, shared onX: “Turns out Rachael Gunn here has a PhD in cultural studies, with a specialty in the gender politics of movement and breakdance.
“She has written about how including break dance in the Olympics changes it from a practice within an alternative subculture, to a hegemonic one that incorporates the dance into what she sees as Australia’s settler colonialist project.
“I am 100% certain what she is doing here, in wearing the Australia kit even, is trying to make some subversive point she can later write journal articles about.”
Hannah slammed Raygun’s performance for being a stunt that diminished Australia on the world stage.
“Hundreds of Australian athletes who will have dedicated their entire lives to athletic excellence will be forgotten because Rachael wanted to bulk up her ResearchGate profile,” Hannah wrote. “Rather than their medals and efforts, this is what Australia will be remembered for.”
The editor continued: “Not to mention the disastrous effect this will have on break dancing as a sport. Its position in the Olympics is not secure, and surely won’t be taken seriously after this.
Raygun was accused of overshadowing breaking with her questionable moves
Image credits:The Project
“Good job Rachael, you really showed those chauvinist nationalists, hundreds of women and girls will not get their Olympic opportunity now.”
It has since been announced that breaking won’t be returning at the next summer Olympic games, which will take place in 2028 in Los Angeles,USA.
“Good for her, hope she thrives,” a reader commented
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