- He became an international name after the Paris Olympics.
- Shot down reports that he has retired from breaking
The Raygun show continues after her disastrous but iconic performance at the Paris Olympics, with the breakdancer pocketing a big payday thanks to her fame, but not enough that she can quit her day job.
Rachael Gunn, 36, rose to international fame after failing to score during the break’s Olympic debut in Paris.
Their performance, which included moves such as kangaroo hops, snake glides and the classic Australian ‘sprinkler’ dance, sparked mixed reactions.
“To be honest, I haven’t watched it again because I normally don’t like to look at myself, but also the camera angles are pretty bad,” Gunn told the magazine. Sydney Morning Herald .
‘He didn’t do me justice; It’s not a representation of who I am as a dancer, but nowadays I’m dedicated to looking forward, not back.’
Raygun put up a distinctly Australian performance in the break’s debut at the Olympics, but while it scored him zero points, it also earned him a legion of new fans.
Raygun is pictured with Peking Duk musician Reuben Styles as guests at a Sydney FC A-League match
Despite this divisive response, the Macquarie University professor and PhD holder has garnered significant attention, making her a prime candidate for lucrative endorsement deals.
Marketing and PR expert Max Markson predicts that while Gunn may be a controversial figure in Australia, major global brands are likely to be keen to capitalize on his new profile.
“It has a huge brand,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Her reputation in Australia is not very good, but she is famous all over the world.
“You will receive international offers from sports footwear brands such as Adidas or Puma, food companies such as McDonald’s or KFC, electric cars such as BYD, and a telephone company such as Telstra, Optus or Vodafone.”
Raygun is happy to be on the television circuit, but he won’t be adding reality TV to his resume.
Gunn earned his first official endorsement since that Paris performance, a brand partnership with Finder the Marxon that he said is worth around $50,000.
“I had to wait for everyone to calm down before I could show that I was willing to laugh and start these types of brand deals,” Gunn said.
“This campaign has been fantastic because it encourages people to be authentic, which is precisely what I was doing in Paris.”
While more endorsement deals are likely to come, Raygun revealed she has returned to her job as a lecturer at Macquarie University.
‘I’m still marking papers to pay the bills; “I have a lot of things to check off right now,” he said.
“And I still enjoy research and being in the classroom.”
But one thing you won’t find the academic doing is taking advantage of the riches on offer through reality TV, and Raygun confirmed he had already turned down several offers.
“You deliver the way you’re portrayed, and I feel like I’ve been through that,” he said.
‘I prefer live television, panels and talk shows, where you can interact with the energy of the people around you.
“There’s a lot to figure out and I have family and friends to help me with those decisions, but I’m in a much better place than I was after the Olympics, and that’s the main thing.”
“What matters to me is that people have the confidence to be themselves.”
