The judge overseeing the Olympic Break competition, Martin Gilian, publicly supported Rachael "Raygun" Gunn following her performance in Paris, which generated significant online discussion.
Raygun's unconventional moves at the Olympics drew both criticism and praise. Gilian emphasized the value of originality in the art of Breaking and praised Raygun for her unique contributions.
Raygun's Kangaroo Moves Praised
"Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table... and this is exactly what Raygun was doing," Gilian said, per SBS.
Raygun, a university professor and significantly older than her competitors, made a lasting impression with her dance moves at the Paris Olympics. Throughout three rounds on Friday, her performances sparked a flurry of online chatter, with users crafting memes and video parodies that critiqued aspects of her appearance and dance expertise.
Gilian, also known as MGbility, shared his thoughts on Raygun's score in the competition. He believes that the score reflects the competitive judging system used in the competition and shouldn't be seen as definite evidence that she did poorly.
Gilian praised Raygun for her creative choreography and highlighted her achievement in securing a spot in the competition by winning the Oceania qualifier. This included incorporating dance moves like the sprinkler and a particularly contentious one where she mimicked the movements of a kangaroo.
"She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."
Dr Raygun is an Aussie legend.
— Craig Foster (@Craig_Foster) August 10, 2024
We dance to our own beat.
And bring marsupial energy to every contest.
She’s a national treasure.
Give her an AO.
💚💛#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/yaTaF5LTSz
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also expressed his disapproval of the criticismsdirected towards Raygun, stressing that such actions were not aligned with the essence of the event.
"The Olympics is about people participating in sport... and Raygun had a crack, good on her."
Is Breaking Even A Sport?
The inclusion of Breaking, also known as breakdancing, in the Paris Olympics was championed by President Thomas Bach and his team at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Their decision was driven by a desire to engage with a more social-media savvy demographic and align with the local organizers' vision for a modern and dynamic Olympic Games.
From the outset, Breaking was viewed by some as a trend rather than a permanent athletic pursuit.
For a sport to be officially recognized as a fundamental component of the Olympic program, it must be featured in at least three consecutive Games, a criterion that Breaking fails to meet.
Despite the popularity and growth of Breaking, the sport has not been included in the roster of events for the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. There are also doubts among sports leaders about its potential inclusion in the Brisbane Olympics in 2032.
