Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, the Australian breaker known for her signature kangaroo bounce, has announced that she will no longer compete at the elite level after facing heavy criticism following her performance at the Paris Olympics.
Gunn, a university lecturer, became a viral figure after her debut in breaking at the Olympics, where she was defeated in all three of her round robin battles with a combined score of 54-0. Her performance, along with her green team uniform, was widely ridiculed online and in the media.
In an interview with Sydney’s 2DayFM, the 37-year-old confirmed that she was stepping away from competitive breaking. “I’m not going to compete anymore, no,” she said. “I had planned to continue competing, but now it feels really hard to approach a battle.”
While Gunn stated that she would still continue breaking, she made it clear that she could not bring herself to compete again after the intense backlash.
“Yeah, I still dance and I still break, but it’s more personal now—just in my living room with my partner,” Gunn said. “It’s been really tough. I just feel like I had no control over how people perceived me or who I was.”
Breaking has been removed from the Olympic program for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, and Gunn has stated that she would not return to competition even if the sport were reinstated.
An online petition, which falsely accused Gunn of manipulating the qualification process to secure her spot at the Paris Olympics, garnered 50,000 signatures before being taken down at the request of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC). The AOC also denied claims that Gunn’s husband, Samuel Free—who is also her coach—had any role in her selection.
Gunn dismissed the “wild” conspiracy theories, focusing instead on the positive feedback she’s received. “I just try to focus on the positives, and that’s what keeps me going,” she said. “The people who’ve told me, ‘You’ve inspired me to do something I’ve been too shy to do. You’ve brought joy and laughter. We’re so proud of you.’ That’s what helps me push through.”