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11th August 2024
10:27am BST
Breakdancing is one of the new additions to this year's Olympic Games in Paris, and it has provided a light-hearted spin to one of the most intense and competitive events in the sporting calendar.
Some of the moments from the dancefloor on Friday have already provided the biggest viral reactions of the past few weeks, none more so than 36-year-old Aussie Rachael Gunn.
Dr Raygun is an Aussie legend.
— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) August 10, 2024
We dance to our own beat.
And bring marsupial energy to every contest.
She’s a national treasure.
Give her an AO.
💚💛#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/yaTaF5LTSz
Unfortunately, 'Raygun' didn’t manage to score a single point from the judges in the round-robin stage on Friday, and left the competition after losing all three of her bouts.
However, the university lecturer has become immortal online for her strange but hypnotic movements.
One move in particular became a meme, which saw her wiggle around on the floor.
I want Raygun, the 36 year old Australian breakdancer possessed by the spirit of Julia Stiles in Save the Last Dance, to know that I am now her biggest fan and she should never stop doing whatever it is she’s trying to do pic.twitter.com/pNeSMzBmPN
— No. 1 Pickleball Anti (@shelbyboring) August 10, 2024
While Ami Yuasa of Japan won the inaugural gold medal, it's Raygun who will undoubtedly live long in the memories of everyone who has watched this year’s tournament.
Her part in the group stages made a big impact on social media. While it was mostly good natured, with people broadly supportive of someone living out an Olympic dream and getting there in the first place, many couldn’t resist poking a little fun at the routine itself.
One user on X wrote: "Olympic breakdancing… c’mon this not a sport, this isn’t anything except turbo cringe."
Another added: "Raygun is me when i find myself competing in the breakdancing olympics after a series of hijinks and a case of mistaken identity."
One other joked: There has not been an Olympic performance this dominant since Usain Bolt’s 100m sprint at Beijing in 2008. Honestly, the moment Raygun broke out her Kangaroo move this competition was over! Give her the #breakdancing gold."
Knew I’d seen the gal from Australia in the #breakdancing before pic.twitter.com/UvMXLUsDEW
— Martha Greenbank (@MarthaGreenbank) August 9, 2024
Australia sending Raygun to represent us in #breakdancing pic.twitter.com/oAx4ses64Q
— Ira Snave (@IraSnave) August 9, 2024
my five year old niece after she says “watch this!” : pic.twitter.com/KBAMSkgltj
— alex (@alex_abads) August 9, 2024
me tryna get the duvet off when i’m too hot at night #olympics pic.twitter.com/NM4Fb2MEmX
— robyn (@robynjournalist) August 9, 2024
Others were a bit more supportive of the Aussie breakdancer.
gentle reminder that Raygun won’t see your little jokes but all your 36 year old breakdancing friends will
— slim riggins (@rigginsslim) August 9, 2024
I could live all my life and never come up with anything as funny as Raygun, the 36-year-old Australian Olympic breakdancer pic.twitter.com/1uPYBxIlh8
— mariah (@mariahkreutter) August 9, 2024
Australia's b girl Raygun may have lied on her resume, but she got a trip to Paris, free gear, access to the Olympic chocolate muffins, material for her next thesis, and is forever an Olympian, PhD brain outsmarted 😭 #Breakdancing #Olympics #Paris2024 #Raygun #RachelGunn pic.twitter.com/DiptZF55hB
— obsessing over the Olympics (@Caroline_3_21_) August 9, 2024
Raygun doesn't seem to be much of a fan of the memes that have been made about her performance, and has hit back at some of the critics who have been quick to judge.
"Don’t be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself," she said. "You never know where that’s gonna take you."
"All my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go out there and I show my artistry.
"Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn’t," she added. "I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about.
"What I wanted to do was come out here and do something new and different and creative – that’s my strength, my creativity.
"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage."
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