By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
When Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, failed to advance at the Paris Olympics, the impact was felt deeply in a small hip hop community on the other side of the world.
In a Sydney warehouse repurposed as a community center, breakers prepared for one of the year’s most significant events a qualifier for the Red Bull BC One World Finals. Amidst their intense warm ups, the atmosphere was heavy, with participants occasionally casting nervous glances at the cameras encircling them, likely recalling the viral images of Gunn that had sparked widespread debate online.
Australian hip hop pioneer Spice described the situation as a setback, stating, "I feel like it's just pushed our scene in Australia into the Dark Ages." Gunn, a 36 year old university lecturer, lost all three of her Olympic battles in a way that quickly became internet fodder. Her unconventional routine, performed in a green tracksuit and featuring moves like the sprinkler and kangaroo inspired hopping, was met with a flood of memes and criticism. The backlash has left the Australian breaking community divided and disappointed.
Spice noted that Gunn’s performance was seen as a mockery of the Australian scene, causing a great deal of hurt. While many have come to Raygun's defense, others admit that questions about her qualification and performance need to be addressed. However, they also believe that the global backlash has hindered any fair analysis of what transpired in Paris.
Gunn’s journey into breaking began when her husband and coach, Samuel Free, introduced her to the male dominated scene at the age of 20. Despite initial struggles, she eventually became a top ranked B girl in Australia and an academic with a PhD in the cultural politics of the sport. Last October, Gunn secured her place in the Olympics by winning a qualifying event in Sydney.
Breaking’s inclusion in the Olympics was itself a topic of debate. Originating in the Bronx in the 1970s, the street dance gained global popularity, and its Olympic debut was seen as a way to attract younger audiences. However, some argued that the competition could not capture the true essence of breaking and might further disconnect the art form from its cultural roots.
As the Olympics concluded, breaking and Raygun in particular captured global attention. Rumors and criticism about her performance spread rapidly online. Gunn was subjected to a barrage of violent messages, and an anonymous petition demanding her apology garnered 50,000 signatures. Unsubstantiated accusations circulated that she had manipulated her way onto the Olympic stage, even creating the governing body that ran the Oceania qualifiers, and that her husband had been involved in selecting her for the Olympics.
Australian fact checking organizations and AUSBreaking, the national body for breaking, quickly attempted to correct the misinformation, emphasizing that the judges upheld strict impartiality standards and that none of the nine judges on the Oceania panel were Australian. Despite these efforts, the criticism continued.
Gunn took to social media to refute the "crackpot theories" and reiterated that she won the qualifier fairly. Te Hiiritanga Wepiha, a Kiwi judge on the Oceania qualifying panel, supported her, stating that her victory reflected the small size of the Australian breaking scene. He also praised Gunn for her courage, knowing the challenges she would face at the Olympics.
Despite the controversy, many in Australia’s hip hop community defended Gunn against the abuse she received. The Australian Olympic Committee’s Matt Carroll condemned the petition as baseless and harmful.
Gunn herself acknowledged that she was never likely to beat her competitors and aimed to bring creativity and artistry to her performance. In a video posted during the height of the public backlash, she expressed how devastating the hate had been, despite her efforts to bring joy to the competition.
The Australian breaking community remains deeply divided. Some B girls feel that Gunn’s performance did not reflect the level of skill in Australia, while others, like Spice, believe that participants representing the country need to meet a certain standard, especially at the Olympics. Yet, there is unanimous condemnation of the bullying Gunn has faced.
The controversy has also had a significant impact on local B girls, with many facing harassment and threats online. The incident has left many young dancers feeling unsafe and discouraged.
Despite the challenges, some hope that the attention brought by Gunn’s Olympic appearance might ultimately benefit the scene by attracting more resources and support. As Wepiha noted, "She might actually bring enough attention to get resources. At the end of the day, Australia has the most famous Olympian of 2024, and she might actually save the scene here."
