Breaking, the sport commonly known as breakdancing, has made a controversial debut at the Paris Olympics 2024, facing a wave of criticism and mockery.
Australian athlete Dr Rachael Gunn, who competes under the name “Raygun,” was one of the competitors whose performance failed to impress both judges and viewers alike.
Raygun, a 36-year-old dancer with a PhD in breakdancing and dance culture, and an academic career lecturing at Macquarie University, exited the competition early after losing all her battles in the group stage.
Despite Raygun’s expertise and status as Oceania’s continental champion, her performance was met with harsh scorn on social media as she lost all three of her matches.
Critics were quick to slam the sport’s inclusion in the Olympics, labelling it “not a sport” and claiming it required the “least amount of skill ever.”
One user on X wrote, “Props to Raygun for having the guts to go out there … but this was the most second-hand embarrassment I’ve ever felt.” Another commented, “I always like to give the new sports a chance, so can confirm it’s an ABOMINATION. The lowest bar ever to be cleared for an Olympic medal.”
Raygun’s attire also became a target, with one user mocking her for dressing “like a school PE teacher complete with cap while everyone else is dressed in funky breaking outfits.” Another cruelly compared her thrusting action to “when my calf cramps up in bed,” while another dismissed the entire sport as “turbo cringe.”
One Olympics viewer also shared footage of Raygun’s routine and said “the moment Raygun broke out her Kangaroo move this competition was over!”
Despite the backlash, the sport had its moment in the spotlight. Japan’s B-Girl Ami claimed the inaugural gold medal, winning three rounds against Lithuania’s B-Girl Nicka with a score of 16 judges’ votes to 11. China’s B-Girl 671 took home the bronze.
“I don’t want my life to change,” Ami told Olympics.com, after sweeping Nicka 3-0 to top the podium. “I mean it in a good way, but I don’t want to change much myself.”
Raygun, however, would be disappointed as Breaking will not return for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, a decision made by the Olympic Committee amid the sport’s controversial reception.
As the women’s breaking events wrapped up, attention turned to the men’s competition, where Australian athlete Jeff Dunne, known as J-Attack, is set to compete.
J-Attack became the first Australian male to qualify for the Olympics in the sport of Breaking when he won the Oceania Breaking Championships in Sydney last year. Fans are hopeful that J-Attack will enter the Games with his eyes firmly set on bringing home an Olympic medal.
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