This is Why Olympic Breakdancer Raygun Score Zero in Paris. “We Stay With Her”

“We stay with her!”

What led to Australian breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn’s surprising zero score at the Paris 2024 Olympics? How did her highly anticipated performance, which went viral for all the wrong reasons, fall flat with the judges? What was the real reason behind her disappointing outcome, and how has the breakdancing community responded?

Let’s see the details of Raygun’s controversial routine and discover the full story behind her Olympic performance that left everyone talking.

Raygun’s Breakdancing Score at the Olympics

Judge Martin Gilian, known in the breakdancing world as MGbility, has since addressed the criticism surrounding Gunn’s performance. In a statement to News Corp, Gilian expressed his sympathy and defended Gunn’s effort, despite the disappointing outcome.

“I feel personally very sorry,” MGbility said. “The breaking and hip-hop community definitely stands behind her. She was just trying to bring something new, something original, and something that represents her country,”

He told News Corp, “We stay with her. We have five criteria in the comparative judging system. Just her level was maybe not as high as the other competitors.”

Gunn’s routine, which featured unique moves inspired by Australian wildlife, was intended to showcase her creativity and national pride. However, despite her originality, she did not secure any points from the five-member judging panel. The comparative judging system was used, and unfortunately, her level was not as high as her competitors. Gilian explained “Again, we’re using a comparative judging system. Her competitors were just better but it doesn’t mean that she did really bad. She did her best.”

“Unfortunately for her, the other b-girls were better. That’s why she didn’t score any votes in her rounds,” added he.

Gunn’s Response

Gunn’s performance included a mix of unconventional moves like hopping like a kangaroo and performing the sprinkler dance. Gilian acknowledged that while her moves were creative and reflective of her cultural background, they did not meet the standard set by other competitors in the inaugural Olympic breakdancing event.

Talking about the experience, she said, “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. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about.”

Raygun qualified for the Olympics through the Oceania qualifiers, and while her innovative approach was appreciated, it did not translate into high scores. The breakdancing community, along with Gilian, stands by her efforts and creativity.

“Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table from your country or region and this is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was you know, kangaroo, the animal. For breaking, when you look for innovations or originality, you always search outside of dancing. Martial arts, how the animals move, anything.”

The Future of Breakdancing

Following the backlash and viral memes, officials are actively monitoring Gunn’s mental health. While breakdancing will not appear in the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the World DanceSport Federation is pushing for its return at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

In other Olympic news, the Paris Games have seen a range of dramatic and memorable moments, from a pole vaulter’s unfortunate accident to controversies surrounding athletes and venue conditions. Despite the mixed reactions to some events, the Games have delivered unforgettable performances and sparked global conversations.

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