Australian breakdancer Rachel “Raegan” Gunn gave her first interview since her controversial performance at her Olympic breakdancing debut last month went viral on social media, leaving many viewers to wonder how the 36-year-old university professor managed to qualify for the Summer Olympics.
Gunn described the aftermath of the Paris Games as “tough,” speaking to Australia's Network 10. While she couldn't have predicted the reaction to her performance and how it would be reverberated around the world, she acknowledged she knew going into the games that she fell short.
Australian B-Girl Rae Gunn reacts during the B-Girls Round Robin Group B in Paris, France on August 9th, 2024. (Elsa/Getty Images)
“I knew my chances were slim,” she says. “As soon as I qualified I thought, 'Oh my God, what have I done?' I knew I would lose, and I knew people wouldn't understand my style and what I was trying to do.”
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Gunn is a lecturer at Macquarie University with a PhD in Cultural Studies. One of her research interests is dance. Gunn won the QMS Oceania Championships in Sydney, Australia, qualified for the Paris Olympics, and was named the top-ranked breaking girl by the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021.
She quickly became a hot topic with her original performances, which included the “Kangaroo Dance.”
Australia's team's Reagan will compete in the women's round-robin Group B on day 14 of the Paris Olympics. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
“I wanted to incorporate Australian movements and themes… That's the great thing about breaking – you can take inspiration from anything. I just had to do what I do best, what my strengths are.”
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Gunn said much of the criticism came from people who didn't understand the different styles of breaking, which she expected, but didn't anticipate the amount of intense criticism she received.
“There have been some extremely angry and nasty responses – not just to me, but to my husband, my colleagues, the Australian breaking and street dance community and my family,” she added.
Gunn failed to score a single point in the round robin stage, losing all of his battles.
Australian B-Girl Rachel Gunn, better known as B-Girl Rae Gunn, will compete in the round robin tournament of the breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris on August 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin)
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“I haven't rewatched it yet,” Gunn said of her Olympic performance.
The world likely won't be seeing her on the Olympic stage again anytime soon: breaking won't be included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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