Rachael Gunn, known as B-girl Raygun, continues to reign as the number one female breakdancer globally.
Story Summary:
- Despite a controversial zero-point performance at the Paris Olympics, Rachael Gunn remains the top-ranked female breakdancer globally.
- The World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has defended its ranking system, which excludes Olympic results, fuelling ongoing debate over Gunn’s qualification.
- The scrutiny over Gunn’s Paris performance and her spot at the Olympics has left the breakdancing community divided.
Rachael Gunn silences haters with top spot in breakdancing world rankings
Her position at the top comes despite a storm of controversy after her Olympic performance for Team Australia, where she scored zero points in all three rounds of competition.
The 37-year-old’s unorthodox moves, such as the “sprinkler” and “kangaroo hop,” made waves online, with some questioning her place in the competition.
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But the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), the sport’s governing body, has defended its ranking methodology.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the WDSF explained that its ranking is based on athletes’ top four performances over the past year, excluding Olympic results.
Gunn’s points come from her first-place finish at the Oceania Championships in October 2023, earning her 1,000 points.
“The record is there. But anything can happen in a battle,” Gunn remarked in an interview last week, addressing the backlash surrounding her performance.
Gunn’s Paris Olympics qualification still under scrutiny
The controversy surrounding Gunn’s qualification for the Paris Olympics has divided the breakdancing community.
Critics claim Gunn unfairly secured her spot on Team Australia. A now-removed viral petition even alleged that her husband, Samuel Free, may have influenced her selection process.
However, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) and AUSBreaking, Australia’s breakdancing governing body, have refuted these claims.
They issued statements last week confirming that Gunn’s husband had no involvement in the judging process, adding that her selection was based purely on performance.
“Contrary to circulating misinformation, Dr. Gunn’s husband was not part of the selection panel or judging committee,” AUSBreaking clarified.
The scrutiny around her Paris performance has led to ongoing debate about whether breaking, an organic art form, belongs in a structured competition like the Olympics.
