Raygun has been named the number one breakdancer in the world despite her performance at the Olympics resulting in zero points.
Rachael Gunn, who performed under the stage name Raygun, gained widespread attention for her routine in Paris, particularly for a move dubbed the “kangaroo dance,” which quickly went viral.
Despite her efforts, Gunn failed to score any points in the competition and was met with intense criticism, including parodies of her performance on U.S. late-night television.
Gunn’s routine went viral. Credit: Elsa / Getty
Online detractors have accused the organizers of the Oceania qualifying event, held in Sydney last October, of bias, suggesting the event was set up to favor Gunn and questioning the judging that led to her qualification, per Sky News.
The backlash reached a new level with a petition signed by over 50,000 people criticizing Gunn’s participation.
In response, Australian Olympic officials condemned the petition, labeling it “misleading and bullying.”
Well, it seems that Gunn may have had the last laugh, as she has now been named as the world’s number-one breakdancer.
The 37-year-old arrived back in Sydney to the news that she had claimed the coveted number-one spot in the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) rankings, as reported by the New York Post.
Raygun’s now the number one breakdancer in the world. Credit: WDSF
Her rise to world number one was cemented by the 1,000 points she earned for winning the WDSF Oceania Championship – a victory that secured her Olympic appearance.
It appears that her pre-Olympic success in the regional competition outweighed her struggles on the world stage.
In the latest WDSF rankings, four Australians are among the top eight breakers. Joining Raygun are Holy Molly (ranked 4th), Hannah (5th), and G-Clef (8th).
Notably absent from the list are the three athletes who medaled in Paris, as the Olympic competition did not contribute to the world rankings.
Gunn shocked judges with her dance at the Games. Credit: DeFodi Images / Getty
Following the ridicule that came her way during the Olympics, Gunn shared an emotional Instagram video to hit back at the trolls.
“I just want to start by thanking all the people who have supported me – I really appreciate the positivity, and I’m glad I was able to bring some joy into your lives. That’s what I hoped,” Gunn said.
She added: “I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate, which has frankly been pretty devastating.”
Despite the criticism, Gunn remains committed to breakdancing and proud of her Olympic journey.
“I went out there and I had fun. I did take it very seriously. I worked my butt off working for the Olympics. I gave my all, truly,” she said.
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Gunn also expressed her pride in being part of the historic breaking debut at the Olympics.
“I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic team and breaking Olympic debut. What the other athletes have achieved has been phenomenal,” she remarked.
Gunn directed a message to the trolls, saying: “Please stop harassing my family, my friends, the Australian breaking community, and the broader street dance community.”
