**After receiving scrutiny and harsh criticism post-Olympics, Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as B-girl Raygun, has announced her retirement from competitive breaking, shifting focus to her passion for dance in a private setting.**
**B-Girl Raygun Retires From Competitive Breaking Amid Olympic Controversy**
**B-Girl Raygun Retires From Competitive Breaking Amid Olympic Controversy**
**Rachael Gunn, known as B-girl Raygun, steps back from competition following backlash from her Olympic performance.**
Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, who goes by the moniker B-girl Raygun, has made headlines with her recent decision to retire from competitive breaking after facing intense backlash surrounding her Olympic performance in Paris. At the Olympic Games held in August, Gunn struggled to score in all three of her rounds, incorporating distinctive moves like the "sprinkler" and "kangaroo hop," which drew both attention and criticism.
The 37-year-old university lecturer experienced a deluge of negative reactions, including conspiratorial accusations regarding her selection process, which purportedly undermined other Australian dancers. A petition demanding her apology circulated online falsely accusing her and her husband of manipulating the competition. Despite official support from Olympic representatives, opinions within the breaking community regarding her performance were polarized, with some claiming that her routine undermined the integrity of the sport.
Initially, Gunn intended to continue her competitive career, but the emotional toll of public scrutiny and backlash led her to reassess her position. During an interview with local radio station 2DayFM, she expressed that the pressure of how she was perceived and evaluated had diminished her enjoyment of dance.
"I was going to keep competing, for sure, but that seems really difficult for me to do now," she indicated, underlining her struggles with the relentless spotlight on her performances. The scrutiny has reportedly taken away the joy of dancing for her, as she described her relationship with dance in intimate settings with her partner as her current preferred mode of expression.
Gunn's experience has reinvigorated discussions surrounding the suitability of breaking in the Olympic arena, a topic that has been debated since its introduction in Paris but is slated to be missing from the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Advocates for breaking contend that its creative and expressive nature may not align well with traditional competitive frameworks, prompting reflection on the future of the discipline within such platforms.
