Rachael Gunn: The story behind the viral Olympic breaker

The Netflix documentary ‘Untold: Raygun: Breaking Badly’ explores the journey and aftermath of Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, following her viral performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gunn, a researcher and former lecturer at Macquarie University, became a global internet meme after her unconventional, kangaroo-inspired routine resulted in zero points across three first-round battles.

The film details her legitimate path to the Olympics, including winning the 2023 WDSF Oceania Breaking Championship, while addressing the intense scrutiny and mental health challenges she faced due to online mockery and criticism from the breaking community. Gunn has since stepped away from competitive breaking, noting that the intense backlash made it difficult to return to the battle scene, though she continues to dance privately with her husband and coach, Samuel Free.

While some peers described her performance as “embarrassing” or “offensive” to the sport, the documentary provides insight into her decision to prioritize creative differentiation over traditional power moves. Since the Olympics, Gunn has pivoted toward public speaking and participating in smaller, local dance communities.