RAY OF LIGHT
Watch viral Australian breakdancer Raygun perform again at Olympics 2024 in impromptu dance off
Star went viral for scoring zero in her routine
VIRAL Olympics breaking star Raygun showed her moves again in an impromptu dance for her teammates ahead of the closing ceremony yesterday.
Her abstract routine, which scored zero points in matches against Lithuania, USA and France, saw her go viral on social media.
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But it has also seen her become a cult hero both in Australia and around the world - and she was championed by her fellow Australian athletes ahead of the Olympics closing ceremony.
Raygun, whose real name is Rachel Gunn, was cheered on by the Aussies as they clapped along to her now-infamous routine.
She was then held aloft on an Aussie athlete's shoulders as she performed her 'kangaroo' move, a tribute to Australia's national animal.
One fan reacted to her impromptu dance ahead of the closing ceremony and said: "Now why was this better than her actual routine that she used to literally compete in the Olympics 😭😭😭"
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But another disagreed and said: "no. no… this is equally the same vibe as the routine she competed with 😭"
Another said: "It’s kind of the same, no?"
A fourth said: "At least she's consistent."
Unfortunately for Raygun and her fellow breaking stars, the sport will not be returning at the LA 2028 Olympics.
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The viral star hit out at the decision to drop the sport after her performance in the breaking heats and said: "It was disappointing it was decided that it wouldn’t be in LA, particularly before we even had a chance to show it.
SunSport's Joshua Jones learns breaking ahead of its Olympics debut at Paris 2024
"That was possibly a little premature. I wonder if they’re kicking themselves now?
"What is an Olympic sport? What are the similarities between dressage and artistic swimming and the 100m sprint and the pentathlon?
"Breaking is clearly athletic, it clearly requires a whole level of dedication across a number of different aspects. It’s really bringing a new level of excitement."
And defending her viral dance on social media, Raygun wrote: "Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that’s gonna take you."
Away from the sport, Raygun is an academic - her research for a PhD focused on the societal roots of "breaking" and the wider culture around it.
What are the key moves of breaking and how is it judged?
THERE are five key fundamentals to look out for from the breakers at the Paris 2024 Olympics:
TOP ROCK
This is stand-up dancing, routines always start with this and feature cross-step and Salsa step.
FOOTWORK
When breakers are down on all fours from a low squat position, doing footwork patterns and steps including hooks and kicks.
GO DOWNS
This is the transition from Top Rock to Footwork, including the Knee Switch and Rock Drop.
FREEZES
Where breakers hold a position or pose during a routine, acting as a pause or ‘comma’ before going again - from the simple to the extraordinary.
POWER MOVES
These are the big wow moves, the ultimate crowd-pleasers, the impressive show-stoppers: flicks, tricks, headspins, air flares, munchmills or windmills.
B-Boys and B-Girls are judged on three categories...
- Body - this is the physical aspect and incorporates the execution and the flow of the dance by the breakers
- Soul - this is the interpretation aspect, how the breakers interpret the music, the competition, the specific battle, the room and how they display their character and bounce off the energy
- Mind - this is the artistic aspect, taking into consideration the creativity of the breakers
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