Viewers of the Olympics were left puzzled by Australian breaker Raygun’s performance in Paris on Friday afternoon.
The 36-year-old, known as Rachael Gunn, went viral after an awkward dance floor performance, showcasing a skill level far below that of many competitors.
However, footage has emerged of the performance that secured Raygun’s qualification for the 2024 Games.
A video posted last November captured her competing against another breaker named Molly at the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships.
Wearing baggy jeans and a burgundy jacket, she showcased her skills by spinning around and writhing on the ground.
Raygun competed in three qualifying rounds on Friday, but the Australian finished without scoring any points against her three opponents.
However, she is Australia’s top-ranking breakdancer and a creative arts researcher specializing in the cultural politics of breakdancing at Macquarie University in Sydney.
Shortly after her performance on the world stage, she took to Instagram to share a cryptic message.
Reposting from the ‘Breaking for Gold’ account, she shared a quote of her own: “Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out there and represent yourself; you never know where that’s going to take you.”
While many mocked Raygun’s performance as ’embarrassing,’ she also gained numerous new fans who admired her determination to compete against athletes more than half her age.
“Never watched breaking before, but I can already tell Raygun doesn’t have a chance in this event,” one commenter added.
Others praised the Aussie for her confidence and courage.
“Raygun’s breaking looks like five-year-old me going up to my mom and saying, ‘Look what I can do,'” a third person quipped.
“Props to Raygun for having the guts to go out there,” one user commented. “But this was the most secondhand embarrassment I’ve ever felt.”
“Raygun from Australia is actually my Olympic hero,” another user added.
Meanwhile, a sixth user wrote: “Raygun, I’m sure you’re a sweet lady, but man,” followed by a laughing and crying emoji.
