Paris 2024 Olympics: Who is Rachel Ragan and why is she a hot topic?

Breaking, or breakdancing, was recently featured in the Olympics for the first time. And lo and behold, the sport has become a hot topic online. It all started with Australian breakdancer Rachel Gunn, whose performance caught people's attention for all the wrong reasons. The competition was a gender-segregated event (16 B-boys and 16 B-girls) and the performance was amazing. But what has sparked more online debate than the winner is Gunn, who competed under the name Rae Gunn. She is now featured in a variety of memes, with some criticizing her quirky moves and others praising her originality.
The 36-year-old Rachel lost 18-0 to 21-year-old American Logan Edler, known as The Logist. Speaking to an ESPN reporter after the event, Gunn defended her incredible moves. “All my moves are original. Creativity is really important to me. I go on stage and I bring my artistry to the table. Sometimes it resonates with the judges, sometimes it doesn't. I do what I want to do. That's art. That's what it's all about,” she said.
According to reports, Gunn holds a PhD in Cultural Studies and is a professor at Macquarie University in Sydney alongside her breakdancing. For those who doubt her skills, Gunn was voted top B-girl by the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021. She also won the Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.
While art is subjective, netizens are having a hard time assessing Gunn's “Kangaroo Move.” One X user commented, “Wow Australian B-girl Rae Gunn is a top breaker. How did she get here Kangaroo Move?” Another user commented on Gunn's eye-catching outfit. One post read, “Aussie B-girl Rae Gunn sent me off dressed as a PE teacher, cap on, while everyone else was in their flashy breaking outfits. Looks like she's making everyone give detention at school for dressing inappropriately.”
Her dance moves may not have impressed many, but her confidence is admirable. Staying true to yourself and not giving in to criticism is a quality most of us lack.
In this event, Japan's Yuasa Ami won the gold medal among 16 B-girls, while Lithuania's Dominika Banević and China's Liu Qingyi won the silver and bronze medals respectively.

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