Australian Breakdance Star Raygun Announces Retirement over ‘Upsetting’ Olympic Backlash
Raygun will not compete at the Olympics again.
The Australian breakdancer, who went viral at the 2024 Paris Olympics for her unique dance moves, revealed on Wednesday, Nov. 6 that she will no longer take part in competitive dancing following the public backlash she received.
Born Rachael Gunn, the dancer, 37, was mocked online after she received 0 points for her August performance in the competitive breakdancing event in the French capital.
“I’m not going to compete anymore, no,” Raygun told Australian radio show 2DayFM, per CNN. “I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems really difficult for me to do now to approach a battle.”
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“Yeah, I mean I still dance, and I still break. But, you know, that’s like in my living room with my partner,” she continued. “It’s been really upsetting. I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was.”
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Back in August, Raygun spoke out about the online hate she’d received and false allegations that claimed she had manipulated the selection process for the 2024 Paris Games by electing herself to represent Australia.
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“I didn’t realize that that would also open the door to so much hate which has frankly been pretty devastating,” she said on Instagram. “While, I went out there and I had fun, I did take it very seriously.”
“I worked my butt off, preparing for the Olympics and I gave my all truly,” she continued. “I’m honored to have been a part of the Australian Olympic Team and to be part of breaking’s Olympic debut.”
Raygun’s statement came after Australian breaking organization AUSBreak said that they “stand in solidarity” with her as they slammed claims that she manipulated the Olympics’ selection process.
