Olympic breakdancer 'Raygun' raises eyebrows with viewers all asking the same question

Australian breakdancer "Raygun" has been making headlines at the Paris Olympics , but perhaps not for the reasons she would have hoped. The 36-year-old academic from Australia's performance has left many questioning how she managed to compete on the world's biggest stage.

While most breakdancers wear casual streetwear, Rachael Gunn, aka Raygun, competed in her Australian uniform against France's Syssa. However, in her three matchups, including those against opponents from Lithuania and the US, Gunn failed to secure a single vote from the judges in her favor .

What's more, Gunn is not a professional dancer but a lecturer at Macquarie University with a PhD in the intersection of gender and Sydney's breaking culture. Her performance is drawing comparisons to Eric Moussambani, aka "Eric the Eel," who famously competed in the 2000 Sydney Olympics despite having no prior experience with Olympic-sized pools.

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Moussambani won his race after his competitors were disqualified, but Gunn fared even worse, sparking questions about how she qualified for the Games in the first place. Gunn has been a proud representative of Australia at the World Breaking Championships for years.

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Her triumph at the previous Oceania Breaking Championships earned her a direct ticket to the Olympics in the bgirl category.

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After witnessing her routine, one user on X humorously commented: "The Aussie B-Girl Raygun dressed as a school PE teacher complete with a cap while everyone else is dressed in funky breaking outfits has sent me. It looks like she's giving her detention for inappropriate dress at school."

Another spectator added their two cents with: "Two Celsius and no breakfast."

This was followed by another user who quipped: "My five-year-old niece when she says watch this," which received a whopping 79 thousand likes.

Before the games, Gunn penned an article in the Economist discussing the significance of breaking as an Olympic sport, stating: "The visibility and legitimacy that come with being an Olympic sport will expand professional opportunities for breakers".

She emphasized: "This is particularly significant for an activity as diverse as breaking."

She further explained: "Breaking provides an opportunity to explore the 'faster, higher, stronger' ethos of the Olympics in new ways. It shows us that we truly don't know every point on which the body can spin or launch its weight, the different shapes it can make, or all the ways it can move."

In the end, it was Ami Yuasa (competing as "Ami") who claimed the gold medal in bgirl breaking at the Paris Olympics on Friday. Although Gunn did not emerge victorious, her participation may have a lasting impact, demonstrating that the Olympics are indeed for everyone.