Breaking has been one of the most promising sports in today’s world. Breakdance is the form that marked its official debut in the Paris Olympics 2024 and the first dance sport discipline to appear in Summer Olympic history. The tournament had thirty-three breakers (sixteen b-boys and seventeen b-girls) competing in face-to-face single fights. It was included to increase young people’s interest in the Olympics.
Among them, Australian breaker Rachael Gunn failed to get into the scoreboard in all three of her rounds. Her routine also included moves like a kangaroo hop failed. She has now announced her retirement. Gunn, also known as Raygun, was mocked and lambasted for her routine in Paris. This sparked conspiracy theories over her eligibility for the event. The program was only included in the 2024 edition.
It has not been included in the program for Los Angeles 2028 and Brisbane 2032. This was a shocking decision for the break dancers and the fans as well. Raygun has been blamed for the reason for its exclusion from future Olympics. The fans took to social media to conspiracy against her and criticising her. This is the worst possible case for an athlete in times of their bad phase.
Raygun’s exit questions Olympics’ integrity
Is Breaking losing its originality due to Olympic politics? Raygun said, “I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was. I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems difficult for me to do now. I think the level of scrutiny that’s going to be there, and people will be filming it, and it will go online.” Raygun is a lecturer at the Macquarie University Faculty of Arts in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Language, and Literature.
Her research revolves around breakdancing, hip-hop, street dance, youth culture, and gender in politics. Raygun expressed that people did not understand breaking and were simply angry about the performance. They mentioned that the conspiracy theories circulating were awful and deeply upsetting, adding that people were now attacking the reputation and integrity of the sport.
