The eccentric Australian breakdancer who swept the Paris Olympics has suffered a major setback as she attempted to trademark the nickname by which she became known.
Rachael Gunn, also known by her nickname Raygun, became a global source of ridicule during the Paris Olympics.
Dressed in an Australian tracksuit that looked more like a cricket uniform than a breakdancing outfit, Raygun jumped like a kangaroo and slithered across the floor like a snake in a routine that didn’t impress the judges.
Now back in Australia after a holiday in Europe, the divisive dancer appears to be striking while the iron is hot and making the most of her newfound fame.
However, the 37-year-old academic failed in his attempt to register the name Raygun.
Gunn filed an application to register the name on August 23 with Australia’s trademark office.
He hopes to get the name to use for various purposes, including software, clothing and entertainment.
Unfortunately, Gunn’s claim was rejected earlier this month because it clashed with pre-existing trademarks.
Breakdancer Rachel Gunn failed in her attempt to trademark her nickname ‘Raygun’
The Australian Olympic athlete became a source of global ridicule during the Paris Olympics.
It’s unclear if Gunn will continue to pursue ownership of his nickname.
On Tuesday night, Gunn launched a new contest on Instagram.
In the images, Raygun is seen wearing an oversized white T-shirt, baggy pants, and a denim shirt. He added a black cube to his set.
“I’ve heard some of you think you can do better,” he says, staring down the barrel of the camera preparing to dance.
‘Actually?’ —he adds in disbelief, cracking his knuckles.
She is then seen wobbling in her trademark kangaroo pose before challenging her followers to the ultimatum: “Let’s find out.”
Raygun is then seen performing some of his signature dance moves in an all-white room in the heavily edited clip. At one point, he even spins around on his head.
At the end of the video, Raygun is seen laughing as details of the competition for the finder.com.au promotion float over his head.
Gunn’s claim was rejected earlier this month because it clashed with pre-existing trademarks.
Raygun is back to breakdancing and is taking down his enemies in a new challenge that could win them $10,000.
The winning solo dancer could take home a whopping $5,000 in prizes, and $10,000 for the best dance team.
It comes after Raygun recently unveiled a new look in Australia’s Stellar magazine.
For the cover shoot, Raygun swapped her green and gold tracksuit and baseball cap for a figure-hugging electric blue dress with bell sleeves.
The academic turned breakdancer looks defiant as she poses with her hands on her hips against a yellow nylon backdrop.
Raygun wore her hair slicked back in a long ponytail for the shoot and opted for bronzed makeup with dark red lipstick.
She finished her look with a pair of strappy black heels.
Gun was seen totally transformed on the cover of Stellar magazine last weekend.
The accompanying cover line reads, “What did Raygun do next?”, along with a quote taken from the interview attached inside.
‘You didn’t knock me down. You didn’t make it. I will maintain what I did,” he says.
Raygun was soundly defeated in all of her battle rounds in Paris, while her routine was mocked by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and singer Adele.
In a major twist, she returned from Paris to be named the world’s number one breakdancer, even though she didn’t even come close to winning a medal due to a quirk in the way dancers are ranked.
But before Halloween this week, she will receive a new honor in the front gardens of Australian homes, with handmade tributes to her routine.
A Melbourne resident has immortalized her kangaroo jumping routine with a paper mache effigy complete with an Australian tracksuit and an Olympic flag.
The artist remains unknown, but a listener called radio station 3AW to inform them that the “statue” had been erected in a nature strip in their suburb.
“Following his huge breakdancing success in Paris, Raygun is now dancing on the streets of Melbourne,” the caller said.
