An Australian breakdancer ‘Raygun’ is going viral following her Olympics performance.
Breaking made its highly anticipated debut at the Paris Olympics on Friday, and the performance of an academic dancer known as ‘Raygun’ has sparked curiosity among fans.
A video of the 36-year-old, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, quickly went viral as she performed a playful routine on the dance floor, resting her hand on her chin in what many described as a ‘comedy dance.’
The clip was from her match against France’s Syssy (Sya Dembélé) during the second of three qualifying rounds on Friday afternoon. Unfortunately, Gunn did not score any points against her three competitors.
“This was so embarrassing to watch”, An X user said.
Another added; “I was laughing cos we have amazing break dancers in Australia but I have to give her mad respect over how she somehow became an Olympian”.
Gunn did not win any of her battles during the round robin stage, which prevented her from advancing to the later rounds of the competition.
Despite this, Gunn remains recognized as one of Australia’s top female breakers. She represented Australia at the World Breaking Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
In addition to her breaking career, Gunn is also a lecturer at Sydney’s Macquarie University, holding a Ph.D. in cultural studies.
Who is Rachael Gunn?
Rachael Gunn, born on September 2, 1987, is an Australian breakdancer and academic who researches the cultural politics of breaking. She works as a lecturer at Macquarie University in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature.
Gunn grew up in Hornsby, New South Wales, where she began dancing as a child, training in ballroom, tap, and jazz. She earned her bachelor’s degree in contemporary music from Macquarie University in 2009 and completed her Ph.D. in cultural studies in 2017, focusing her thesis on the intersection of gender and Sydney’s breaking culture.
Under the nickname “Raygun,” Gunn started breakdancing in her mid-20s during the early 2010s. She took a break from competing to finish her Ph.D. but returned to the competitive scene in 2018. Coached by her husband, Samuel Free, she trains three to four hours a day.
Gunn has represented Australia in several international competitions, including the World Breaking Championships in Paris (2021), Seoul (2022), and Leuven, Belgium (2023). In 2023, she won the Oceania Breaking Championships, earning her a spot in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Gunn is married to Samuel Free, who is also a breakdancer. The couple met at university in 2008.
