Ridiculed Australian Olympic breaker Rachael Gunn, or ‘B-girl Raygun,’ takes high spot in newest world rankings.
Australian Olympic breakdancer “Raygun” has been ridiculed, written off, and now topped primary on the earth, the game’s governing physique confirmed on Wednesday.
Rachael “Raygun” Gunn, 37, grew to become one thing of a world laughingstock after her kangaroo-inspired routine did not impress the judges on the Paris Olympics, the place the game of breaking made its debut.
Her strikes had been parodied on late-night speak exhibits, her retro tracksuit was lampooned on-line and breaking aficionados around the globe questioned how she had made the workforce. However Raygun received her revenge and the final chortle when the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) named her the primary feminine breakdancer on the earth.
The rankings had been based mostly on the athlete’s 4 high performances inside the previous 12 months, stated the WDSF on Wednesday. Nevertheless, with few rating occasions held between December 2023 and the Olympics, “many athletes have just one competitors consequence contributing to their rating,” a WDSF assertion stated.
Gunn received the Oceania Continental Championship in that interval, incomes her 1,000 rating factors. Japanese B-girl Riko’s win on the Gold World Collection in Hong Kong in December 2023 noticed her additionally awarded 1,000 factors, however the WDSF stated Raygun’s occasion carried extra weight, so awarded her the highest rating.
Raygun’s reign on the high may very well be short-lived
“The WDSF confirms that rankings will change after the 12-month factors expire, and when the subsequent WDSF Breaking for Gold World Collection is held in Shanghai in October 2024,” the assertion added. The WDSF stated it remained “steadfast in its dedication to transparency and equity” within the aggressive rating course of.
Gunn, a college lecturer, appeared on Australian TV final week to apologise for stirring up a backlash in opposition to the broader breakdancing group. Gunn stated she had not anticipated to do nicely on the Olympics, however that her report confirmed she was one of the best breaker in Australia.
“As quickly as I certified, I used to be like, ‘Oh my gosh, what have I carried out?’ As a result of I knew that I used to be going to get overwhelmed, and I knew that individuals weren’t going to grasp my fashion and what I used to be going to do,” she stated. “And I’m very sorry for the backlash that the group has skilled, however I can’t management how folks react.”
Gunn had beforehand spoken out in opposition to the “fairly devastating” hatred unleashed after the Olympics. “I went on the market and I had enjoyable. I did take it very critically. I labored my butt off making ready for the Olympics and I gave my all,” she stated in a video message final month.
Whereas many ridiculed her efficiency on social media, Gunn received assist from others, together with her fellow Australian Olympians and Australia’s prime minister.
