Olympic Australian Breakdancer Goes Viral: Parents Aren’t Happy

The pressure of performing on the world’s biggest stage can be immense, especially when your entire Olympic dream hinges on a single routine.

Australian breakdancer Raygun experienced this firsthand when she received zero points for her Olympics routine, a moment that has since gone viral. But, her parents aren’t ready to let go of the matter.

Australia’s Olympic Breakdancer Goes Viral

Rachael Gunn’s 2024 Paris Olympic Games breakdancing routine went viral for its creativity, but the 36-year-old received zero points from the judges across all three bouts, leaving them unimpressed.

After winning the 2023 Oceania Breaking Championships, Rachael Gunn qualified for the 2024 Olympics and brought her coach and husband, Samuel Free, with her. Although Gunn aimed to showcase something new and creative, her routine did not impress the judges.

What Happened After She Scored 0?

A judge expressed regret over Rachael Gunn receiving a zero score. However, it was noted that the breaking and hip-hop community supports her.

The judge explained that Gunn’s score reflected a comparative judging system. Her performance was not as strong as her competitors, though it did not mean she performed poorly.

Following the social media response to Rachael Gunn’s performance, Sergei Nifontov, General Secretary of the World DanceSport Federation, announced that she is being offered mental health support. Additionally, Gunn’s father-in-law has criticized the judges for not awarding her any points for her routine.

Who Is to Blame for the Fall of the Australian Breakdancer?

In a Facebook post, Andrew Free stated that Rachael Gunn did not advance past the preliminary rounds at the Olympics. This was due to the judges favoring a style of breaking that did not align with her strengths.

He criticized the judging for not adequately rewarding originality and musicality, despite these being key criteria. Free emphasized that Gunn represented Australia and breaking at the Olympics with courage and dignity. He acknowledged that her style might not have been as natural for some as for others.

The post read: “It was a pretty stacked competition and the judges were clearly looking for a certain style of breaking which is not Rachael’s. Although they are supposed to mark five different aspects with each having the same weighting in my obviously biased opinion they did not reward originality and musicality so she was up against it. The main thing is she represented Australia and breaking at the Olympics with courage and dignity. It comes naturally for some of them, not so much for Rachael. It is part of the culture.”

What do you think of the Australian breakdancer? Was the hate necessary?

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