Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics and it certainly got people talking.
Team USA’s Victor Montalvo, Sunny Choi, Logan Edra and Jeffrey Louis are proudly representing the United States, but it’s B-Girl Rachael Gunn, or better known as “Raygun” of Team Australia, that stole the show.
The 36-year-old athlete went up against Edra, Lithuania's Dominika Banevič and France's Sya Dembélé during the breaking competition on Aug. 9.
Japan's Ami Yuasa took home the gold, while Banevič nabbed the silver and China's Liu Qingyi won the bronze. Raygun, on her end, finished in 16th place — but her moves quickly went viral.Among her most talked about moves included what some people are calling the “kangaroo,” which is fitting for the Aussie’s native country.
Another one of her moves that has gone viral is a backwards roll, with a side pose and touch touches. She also busted out the sprinkler. Her confidence exuded on the stage as she showed off her skills and seemingly became a breakout breaking star.
“‘raygun’ from australia is my olympic hero actually,” tweeted @coso9001.
User @_Quezare also wrote: “Can we PLEASE get Raygun as our flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony. I have never been prouder to be Australian #BreakingForGold #Olympics.”
“Raygun really hit the Kangaroo hop LMAO,” another user posted, while someone else pleaded, “Give Raygun the gold right now.”
“There’s a breakdancing competition in the olympics and Australia sent a 36-year-old dancer named Raygun and every clip is more incredible than the last,” one person added.
After captivating the world, Raygun posted a quote on her Instagram, which read: “Don’t be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that’s gonna take you.”
So who is Rachel Gunn, AKA Raygun, the breaker from Australia?
Read on to find out more.
The 36-Year-Old Olympic Breakdancer
Aside from being a professional breaker, the Olympian is a lecturer at Sydney’s Macquarie University with a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies, according to CNBC.
“In 2023, many of my students didn’t believe me when I told them I was training to qualify for the Olympics, and were shocked when they checked Google and saw that I qualified,” she said.
Raygun told the publication that her teaching and research centers on breaking, hip hop and gender stereotypes that surround the dance styles.
Breaking Her Way to the Olympics
Making it to the Olympics is no easy feat. Known as the country's best female breaker, Raygun has proudly represented Australia in 2021, 2022 and 2023 at the World Breaking Championships, per CNBC. She ranked 64 out of 80 breakers.
The breaker pushed herself “harder than ever” to qualify for the Paris Games.
“In breaking, you just never know what’s going to happen on the day. You always have to be prepared. I knew the stakes were higher for the Olympic qualifiers, and prepared 10 different sets and made sure I included all the elements and moves in the rounds,” she told CNBC. “I really, really, wanted it, and so I fought really hard throughout the competition and just put everything out there.”
A Passion for Dance
Over her lifetime, Raygun has dabbled in many styles of dance, from ballet to tap, entering into breaking at a later stage in her life.
Her then-boyfriend, now husband and coach, introduced her to breaking when she was 20 after seeing that she picked up the beat and rhythm of the music faster than other students.
Since then, she’s worked on her upper body strength and her specialty, which she describes as “style and creativity, not dynamics or power moves like many other dancers.”
Raygun noted in her interview that breakdancing “was considered a bit of a joke” in Australia. But now that it was officially included in the Olympics, she hopes it motivates more people to try the style of dance.
“We’re inspiring a whole new generation of people to get into breaking. This is so exciting for us and we just want to share this culture, this dance, and this sport.”
Raygun's Legacy
Raygun’s performance at the Olympics has brought global attention to the sport of breaking, demonstrating that age and experience are valuable assets in a field often associated with youth and athleticism. Her story inspires aspiring dancers and athletes alike, proving that it’s never too late to pursue your passion and reach for the stars.
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Liz Calvario is a Los Angeles-based reporter and editor for TODAY.com who covers entertainment, pop culture and trending news.
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