Rachael Gunn reflects on viral Olympic breaking performance

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn, known professionally as ‘Raygun’, has reflected on her viral and widely mocked performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics in the Netflix documentary ‘Untold Raygun: Breaking Badly’.

Gunn admitted to feeling ‘cringe’ and expressed that she felt she brought ‘shame and embarrassment’ to Australia following the intense social media backlash. Her unorthodox routine, which included kangaroo-inspired movements, resulted in her losing all three of her Olympic battles without a single judge's vote. While Gunn defended her approach as an attempt to prioritize creativity and artistry over power moves, the performance led to widespread ridicule online.

The documentary also features reactions from others in the community, including fellow breaker Leah Clark, known as Flix, who stated she felt offended and embarrassed by the performance. Conversely, entrepreneur Richard Branson expressed support for Gunn, noting that the world needs ‘original thinkers’ and praising her ability to stand out.