Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn Reflects on Olympic Experience Following Online Backlash

Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn has spoken publicly for the first time following her participation in breaking at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Gunn was one of two Australians competing in the sport, which made its Olympic debut this year. Unfortunately, she was eliminated during the group stage after scoring zero in her three breaking battles.

In a recent television interview aired on The Project, the 36-year-old b-girl and academic expressed that the overwhelming attention and reaction from the public felt like a ‘weird dream.’ She stated, ‘I’m still in the process of trying to describe how I feel.’ Despite her performance going viral, it received mixed reactions, ranging from praise to ridicule.

Initially, Gunn was advised by the Australian Olympic Team’s media officer to avoid social media to shield her from potential negativity. However, upon exploring some comments, she described feeling a ‘sick feeling’ and began to grasp the scale of attention surrounding her performance, which included the now-famous ‘kangaroo hop.’

Amidst the backlash, she received mental health support and voiced her struggles to cope with feelings of panic and uncertainty while in public. ‘I was quite nervous being out in public,’ she mentioned, referencing her experience with journalists following her performance.

Gunn also reflected on being the subject of a sketch on the Jimmy Fallon Show, which further amplified the surreal nature of her experience. She attributed much of the criticism she faced to a lack of understanding of the diversity within breaking, noting that the sport contains both athletic and artistic styles, both of which are valid.

Despite theories suggesting manipulation in her selection process, the Australian Olympic Committee confirmed that her selection was legitimate. Gunn defended her qualifications, stating, ‘I won the Oceania championship.’ She acknowledged the challenges surrounding her performance, admitting that she knew her chances of advancing were ‘slim.’

While some in the breaking community have openly criticized her, she chose to focus on the positive interactions she has experienced since the Olympics. Gunn also expressed concern about the anger directed not only at herself but towards her family and the broader breaking community.

Reflecting on her future in the sport, she mentioned that dancing had transformed from her ‘medicine’ into a source of stress since the backlash, leading her to reconsider participating in future competitions.