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Raygun retires from competition following backlash for infamous Olympic performance

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Raygun has retired from competitive breaking.
Camera IconRaygun has retired from competitive breaking. Credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Australian breakdancer Rachel Gunn has retired from competition after her infamous Olympic performance, which saw her rise to global fame.

Gunn, famously scored zero points in her three Olympic routines with some of her bizarre moves, including the kangaroo and sprinkler spawning countless memes and attracting worldwide attention.

The 37-year-old university lecturer said the backlash and ridicule over her performance had caused her to lose passion for the sport and would no longer compete professionally.

“I still break, but I don’t compete. I’m not going to compete any more. No. No,” she said on Sydney’s 2DayFM.

“It’s been really upsetting. I just didn’t have any control over how people saw me or who I was.

“Dancing is so much fun, and it makes you feel good. I don’t think people should feel crap about the way that they dance.

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“Yeah, I mean I still dance, and I still break. But, you know, that’s like in my living room with my partner!

Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, during the B-Girls Round Robin breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris.
Camera IconAustralian breaker Rachael Gunn, also known as Raygun, during the B-Girls Round Robin breaking competition at La Concorde Urban Park in Paris. Credit: DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAPIMAGE

Breaking was included in Paris in an attempt to appeal to younger audiences but has not been included in the program for LA and after its poor reception overall it is difficult to see it making a comeback.

In September Gunn was ranked as the No.1 female breaker in the world by the World DanceSport Federation and various conspiracy theories have sprung up over how she managed to secure her Olympic spot.

“It’s still impossible to process. The conspiracy theories were totally wild.

“But I just try and stay on the positives and that’s what gets me through. The people that have like [said], you have inspired me to go out there and do something that I’ve been too shy to do. You’ve brought joy, you’ve brought laughter. You know, we’re so proud of you.

“And just like really f---ing lovely things that people have written and that is just what I hold on to.”

“If you get out there, and you have fun on the dance floor then just own it.”

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