Raygun

2024 - 8 - 10

Raygun: The Breakdancing Sensation That Shook the Olympic Stage!

Australian athletes - breakdancing - diversity in breaking - misogyny in sports - Paris 2024 Olympics - Raygun

Australian breakdancer Raygun dazzled and divided audiences during her Olympic debut. Find out why she's taking the internet by storm!

When the world tuned into the Paris 2024 Olympics, one of the highlights was undoubtedly the debut of breakdancing as an official sport. Among the competitors, Australian b-girl Rachael Gunn, affectionately known as Raygun, caught everyone's eye — not just for her unique dance moves but also for the whirlwind of social media chatter that followed her performance. Raygun brought a taste of Aussie spirit to the Olympic stage, showcasing an energetic style that combined skill, passion, and a dash of flair that truly captivated the audience.

However, it wasn’t all applause and adulation for Raygun. Despite her infectious enthusiasm, the breakdancer faced some harsh criticism online, leading Australia's Chef de Mission, Anna Meares, to leap to her defense. Meares publicly expressed her disappointment over the trolling and negative comments aimed at Raygun, highlighting the need for support and encouragement for athletes trying their best on such a grand stage. Social media can be a double-edged sword, and Raygun quickly learned the dark side of going viral, navigating both praise and backlash as she made her Olympic debut.

In terms of performance, Raygun was eliminated in the round-robin stage, not scoring a single point from the judges, which further fueled the conversation around her Olympic journey. Fans and critics alike were dissecting her moves, with some questioning the authenticity of her routines. Not one to be easily discouraged, Raygun took to social media to hit back at the negativity, proclaiming that dance is about expressing oneself, regardless of opinions. To her, each performance is a celebration, and her spirit and determination shone through, igniting conversations about the importance of self-expression in dance.

Interestingly, breakdancing, or breaking as it’s often called, has deep roots in hip-hop culture dating back to the 1970s and has evolved dramatically since its inception. While Raygun may have faced a tough crowd and mixed reactions at the Olympics, her presence marked a historic moment in sports—bringing street culture to the mainstream and challenging traditional perceptions of athleticism. With its exciting debut, the inclusion of breakdancing in the Olympics promises to pave the way for future artists to take center stage and express their creativity. It turns out, dancing through adversity might just be Raygun's greatest achievement yet, and who knows what the future holds for this iconic b-girl?

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Image courtesy of "Forbes"

Raygun, The Australian Breakdancer In The Olympics: Explained (Forbes)

Aussie breaker Rachael Gunn, known as B-girl Raygun, took the internet by storm after her brief but memorable time on stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

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Image courtesy of "Variety"

Australian Breakdancer Raygun Goes Viral as Sport Makes Olympic ... (Variety)

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn (aka Raygun) has caused quite a stir on social media after her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Australia chief Meares disappointed by trolling of breaker Raygun (Reuters)

Australia's Chef de Mission Anna Meares has hit out at criticism of Rachael Gunn after the breakdancer was pilloried online and in mainstream media for her ...

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo! Voices"

Australian dancer 'Raygun' is going viral for her Olympic breaking ... (Yahoo! Voices)

Australia's dancer 'Raygun' went viral after her performance at the Paris Olympics. Here's what to know about the dancer.

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Australian b-girl Raygun's 'kangaroo' dance prompts questions on ... (The Associated Press)

Cringy moves and a white b-girl's durag prompt questions about Olympic breaking's authenticity · B-Girl Raygun competes during the Round Robin Battle on Friday, ...

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Image courtesy of "ABC News"

Australian chef de mission Anna Meares defends breaker 'Raygun ... (ABC News)

Australia's chef de mission says criticism of breaker Raygun has been disappointing, as her Paris Olympics performance continues to go viral.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Raygun hits back at online hate as breaking moves at the Olympics ... (The Independent)

The Australian - real name Rachael Gunn - did not score a single point from the judges and was knocked out at the round-robin stage after losing all three of ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Raygun: Australian professor's breakdancing routine goes viral as ... (Sky News)

The urban dance, known as "breaking" by those within the sport, has been introduced to the games this year in an effort to attract new and younger audiences ...

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

'Respect her 100 per cent': Fellow breakers throw support behind ... (Fox Sports)

'Respect her 100 per cent': Fellow breakers throw support behind Raygun after pile-on.

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Image courtesy of "NEWS.com.au"

Albo backs Raygun after Olympic disaster (NEWS.com.au)

Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun has attracted the support of the Prime Minister for “having a crack” during her unconventional routines in Paris.

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Image courtesy of "The Sydney Morning Herald"

I am Raygun. You are Raygun. We are all Raygun! (The Sydney Morning Herald)

Haters gonna hate. But here's why we should all be Dr Rachael Gunn.

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

'People were really worried': Truth behind Aussie breaker being ... (Fox Sports)

'People were really worried': Truth behind Aussie breaker being picked for Olympics.

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Image courtesy of "SBS"

'It took great courage': Australia's Olympic chief defends 'Raygun ... (SBS)

Australia's Chef de Mission Anna Meares said the online comments against 'Raygun' are typical of historic misogynistic abuse.

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Image courtesy of "Variety"

Australian Breakdancer Raygun Goes Viral as Sport Makes Olympic ... (Variety)

Australian breakdancer Rachael Gunn (aka Raygun) has caused quite a stir on social media after her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Australian Breakdancer Raygun Claps Back at Trolls After Olympics ... (Lexington Herald Leader)

Australian breakdancer Raygun has heard the criticisms of her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics - and she's not feeding the trolls.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Raygun: Major twist in Olympic Games controversy that will mean ... (Daily Mail)

Legendary breaker Samson Smith has lifted the lid on Raygun's dancing background after making a surprise admission about the Australian's infamous ...

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Image courtesy of "The Associated Press"

Breaking community defends b-girl Raygun and is hopeful for return ... (The Associated Press)

The sport made its Olympic debut in Paris — it might never be back — and one of the lasting images was the performance of an Australian b-girl known as ...

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Image courtesy of "Economic Times"

raygun: Olympic Breakdancer Raygun responds to critics calling her ... (Economic Times)

Raygun, the Australian breakdancer who drew viral attention for her unique style at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has addressed critics who disparaged her ...

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Image courtesy of "The Australian"

Albo's huge call on Aussie breakdancer (The Australian)

Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun has attracted the support of the Prime Minister for “having a crack” during her unconventional routines in Paris.

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Image courtesy of "Daily Mail"

Raygun: Why Olympic Games star scored ZERO in Paris (Daily Mail)

Sydney university lecturer Rachael Gunn, 36, aka Raygun, failed to score a point in any of her three bouts when breaking made its debut as an Olympic sport ...

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Image courtesy of "NBC New York"

Breaking community defends b-girl Raygun, offers mental health ... (NBC New York)

The breaking community wants the world to give b-girl Raygun a break as the Paris Olympics wrapped up. The sport made its Olympic debut in Paris — it might ...

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

Aussie Olympic stars' classy act as cult hero given guard of honour ... (Fox Sports)

Australian cult hero Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn was given a guard of honour by her fellow Olympians ahead of Sunday's Closing Ceremony in Paris.

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Image courtesy of "NEWS.com.au"

Judge breaks silence on Raygun's score (NEWS.com.au)

Australian B-girl Rachael 'Raygun' Gunn took the world by storm with her performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, with video of her writhing like a snake and ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Viral Australian breaker 'Raygun' dances her way to the Paris ... (The Guardian)

The breaker was filmed dancing on the streets of Paris at the conclusion of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

Olympic judge breaks silence on Raygun's score (Fox Sports)

Though the judges weren't as enthused, awarding the cultural studies academic straight zeros for her efforts. Speaking ahead of the closing ceremony, breaking ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Raygun: Olympic judge praises breaker's 'originality' (BBC News)

The top judge of the Olympic breaking competition has thrown his support behind Rachael Gunn of Team Australia, after her unorthodox routine in Paris ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

What will Raygun do next? I foresee a very lucrative career (The Guardian)

Australians love an underdog. Eric the Eel, Stephen Bradbury, Eddie the Eagle. It bodes well for Raygun's post-Paris Olympics future.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Raygun: Olympic judge praises breaker's 'originality' (BBC News)

The top judge of the Olympic breaking competition has thrown his support behind Rachael Gunn of Team Australia, after her unorthodox routine in Paris ...

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Image courtesy of "The Sydney Morning Herald"

Breaking but not broken: Raygun dances up a storm as teammates ... (The Sydney Morning Herald)

The Australian breakdancer faced heavy criticism after failing to score in her Olympic debut. As the heavy stream of online trolling continues, ...

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Image courtesy of "SBS"

Give Raygun a break, say supporters after controversial Olympic ... (SBS)

The sport of breaking made its Olympic debut in Paris. One of the lasting images was the performance of Australian breakdancer dubbed 'Raygun', ...

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