Many sports fans have been wondering whether breaking should be in the Olympics after dancer Rachael Gunn sent the internet into a frenzy with her eccentric dance moves.
Rachael Gunn, 36, has become an unexpected online sensation after taking to the stage during the first breaking competition at the 2024 Paris Games with moves that were compared to a child falling to the ground and Homer Simpson running on the ground.
Introduced to the world as ‘Raygun’, her breakgirl name, Gunn lost to competitors half her age in Friday’s round-robin heats, but her showdown with France’s Syssy captured the attention of thousands.
He hopped like a kangaroo, sometimes looked like a T-Rex, and rolled around on the ground in a disjointed manner that both confused and amused Australians returning home to see the sport for the first time.
The 2024 Paris Games are the first time breaking has been included as an Olympic sport, but it is not planned for the 2028 event in Los Angeles.
Ahead of the competition, former rap icon Ice-T took to social media to share his delight at the inclusion of street performance art.
‘Olympic breakdancing starts today! 10am EST… This will blow the minds of anyone who hasn’t seen breakdancing in a long time… AMAZING. All respect to HIPHOP,’ he wrote.
However, many fans have now called for it to be removed from the Olympics, with many thinking that it shouldn’t have even been there in the first place.
Team Australia’s B-Girl Raygun competes during the B-Girls Round Robin
Many sports fans do not believe that breakdancing should be a featured discipline at the Olympic Games.
“I tried to watch the men’s breaking competition again today. Can we all agree that was a bad idea? This should not be an Olympic sport,” posted one X user.
“Breakdancing should be immediately removed from the Olympics as soon as the Olympics are over. This should never be done again,” said another.
“The more I see breakdancing, the more convinced I am that it should be removed from the Olympics. It’s actually embarrassing for the athletes and anyone who has seen breakdancing before,” replied a third.
“I speak for everyone when I say breakdancing should not be in the Olympics,” posted another.
Zack Slusser, vice president of Breaking for Gold USA and USA Dance, said the early elimination of the fledgling sport was because athletes couldn’t afford it.
“It was a miracle that we were in Paris in the first place,” he said.
“But for the breaking community, it’s an achievement worth celebrating, even if it doesn’t make it back to the Olympic stage.”
However, Raygun remains optimistic about the sport and criticised organisers for removing it from the upcoming Olympics without really giving it a chance.
“It was disappointing that it was decided not to be shown in Los Angeles, especially before we had a chance to show it,” he said.
“Maybe it was a little premature. I wonder if they’re regretting it now.”
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Gunn, 36, competed against breakers half his age as he took to the stage with his sometimes bewildering dance moves.
Some of her moves confused viewers, but she seems to have remained upbeat about her performance.
“Breaking is clearly an athletic activity, which clearly requires a level of total dedication in several different aspects. It’s really bringing a new level of excitement.”
In a virulent social media post, Gunn also hit out at people who criticised her Olympic uniform, after some trolls suggested she looked like a tennis lineswoman.
However, it’s possible that I misinterpreted the situation with this response, given that most of the criticism directed at her was about her performance, not her unremarkable outfit.
“I hope tomorrow the same level of scrutiny is put on what bboys wear,” she posted on Instagram, suggesting there was a sexist element to the backlash.
In a separate post, she said: “Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out and represent yourself, you never know where that will take you.”
World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) president Shawn Tay said the organisation was “deeply disappointed” not to be able to return to California in 2028. But he hopes the sport can return to Brisbane.
“Our campaign to be added to Brisbane 2032 has already begun and is being ably led by our First Vice President and Australian Resident, Tony Tilenni,” Tay said.
‘Initial reactions from all participants to the last-minute submissions, including Brisbane officials at the Australian Olympic Committee celebrations one year ahead of the Paris 2024 Games, have been very optimistic about our chances of being added to these Games.’