So, let’s talk about the whirlwind surrounding Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn, the Aussie breakdancer who’s taken the world by storm—though maybe not in the way you’d expect. Gunn, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, became an overnight sensation thanks to her quirky, comedic routine that had the internet buzzing.
We’re talking kangaroo hops, snake-like slides on the floor, and a wardrobe choice that screamed more “Aussie tourist” than urban street style. But despite her flair for entertainment, she didn’t score a single point in any of her three battles. Ouch, right?
Still, that didn’t stop the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) from dropping a bombshell: Raygun was named the world’s No. 1 b-girl in their September rankings. That’s right, despite her Olympic flops, she soared past Olympic medalists like Ami ‘Ami’ Yuasa and Nicka Banevic. Naturally, fans and fellow competitors were left scratching their heads, and the backlash came fast and fierce.
The WDSF was quick to release a statement explaining how Gunn reached that top spot. It all boils down to their ranking system, which, as they clarified, is based on an athlete’s top four performances over the past year. And here’s the kicker: the Olympics didn’t offer any ranking points due to a limited number of athlete quotas.
So, while Gunn may have flopped at the biggest event in sports, her pre-Olympic performances still counted. The WDSF also pointed out that many athletes only had one ranking event contributing to their scores post-Olympics, making it a bit of a statistical anomaly.
Now, let’s be real here—Raygun’s Olympic performance isn’t what earned her the No. 1 ranking, and the WDSF even noted that their current standings shouldn’t be viewed as more important than the actual Olympic results.
In fact, Raygun’s reign at the top is temporary. Her points will expire at the end of October, meaning she’ll fall off the rankings pretty soon.
As for Raygun herself, she’s not exactly rushing to get back into the competitive scene. In a recent interview on *The Project*, she opened up about how the pressure of competing turned dance, once her passion, into a source of stress. Right now, she’s focused on finding her love for breaking again and has no immediate plans to return to competition.
Instead, she’s been linked to reality TV offers and has even rubbed elbows with the likes of Richard Branson and Boy George. Not too shabby for someone who didn’t win a single battle in Paris.
So, while her Olympic performance may not have lived up to expectations, Raygun is still making waves, proving that sometimes, it’s not just about the medals—it’s about capturing the spotlight, however you can.
