WATCH: Australian breakdancer goes viral at Olympics for 'really bad' performance
Rachael Gunn failed to win over the judges and scored zero points in her category but became the subject of countless memes on social media.
Clarence Ford speaks to Barbara Friedman about trending online topics.
[Skip to 3:39 for this story]
Australia's first-ever (and most viral) Olympic break-dancer Rachael Gunn (36) failed to win over the judges as she lost her three round-robin contests in the competitive form of breakdancing by an aggregate score of 54-0 on Friday.
The university dance lecturer - who competed under the name Raygun - wore a green and yellow Australian Olympic tracksuit, while her rivals were kitted out in street wear as breaking made its debut as a Games event.
Gunn's performance went viral for being 'really bad' as she was 'hopping around like a kangaroo doing various animal antics, becoming a laughing stock on the interweb,' says Friedman.
Here's Raygun's performance...
And here are some internet users responses...
@chilling.with.marko #Meme #MemeCut #CapCut #fyp #foryou #newvideo #kitchen #cockroach #olympics2024 #australia #nz #usa #sports #breakdance #comedy ♬ original sound - I Green Screen Things
@twistypantsromeochop Romeo’s Breakdance at the Olympics🥇 #breakdancing #olympics2024 #olympics #australia #breaking #girl #australianbreakdancer #raygun #rachel #viral #fyppppppppppppppppppppppp #breakdanceviral #dog #funny #meme #olympicsmeme #RiverandRomeo ♬ original sound - UnknoWn_
@missdoublebay We must protect her at all costs 🐐 #olympics #breakdance #australia #paris2024 #raygun #aussie #bringiton #bgirl #dance ♬ original sound - Miss Double Bay
@jen_kennedy_ Cant get over the Australian breakdancing at the olympics 😆 #raygun #breakdancing #2024olympics ♬ original sound - I Green Screen Things
@iamtheunicornhead She got moves! #breakdancing #olympics2024 #raygun #olympics #indiemusic #indieband ♬ Music for Humans - I am the Unicorn Head
@rrrgrahhh Watch until the end to see the newest member of the Australian Breaking Team 😂. #raygun #olympics #breaking #dance #paris #sport #sydney #australia #greenscreenvideo ♬ Dust Collector - lucas
Gunn's performance started trending on social media with some users turning her outfit choice and way of break into a meme.
She responded to these internet users saying: 'Don't be afraid to be different, go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that's gonna take you.'
For Gunn, the sport is all about the sense of freedom and self-expression. It’s what drives her to train hard, push herself and leave everything on the dance floor.
Gunn went on to explain her performance saying, 'I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative because how many chances do you get in a lifetime to do that on an international stage? I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way.'
Breaking's Chief Judge, Martin 'MGibility' Gilian says Raygun brought 'something new to the table' as her performance was all about self-expression which is what breakdancing is all about.
@guardianaustralia B-girl Raygun, whose dance routine in the Paris Olympics breaking event was ridiculed on social media, has received the full backing of the sport's federation. Rachael Gunn, a 36-year-old Australian university lecturer known in breaking as b-girl Raygun, left fans puzzled by her dancing, which included lying on the stage and flailing around with her hand on her chin and jumping like a kangaroo. She also eschewed the hip-hop inspired outfits that other breakers wore in favour of a green and gold Team Australia tracksuit and cap. #sport #ParisOlympics2024 #breaking #dance #Australia ♬ original sound - Guardian Australia
Internet users are speculating if Gunn performed her piece as a protest to having breakdancing included as 'sport with rules' in the Olympics.
However, Friedman feels, if that was Gunn's point - the Olympics wasn't the place to make that point when there are many brilliant people who wanted the chance to have the opportunity to represent breakdancing in its glory.
"People on social media asked if she [Gunn] choreographed this set deliberately to make a point... that breakdancing shouldn't be an Olympic sport because it shouldn't be judged according to these rules and breakdancing isn't about rules - if that was her profound revolutionary point - probably not the place to do it?"
- Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire
"People have worked so hard to get into this super elite level of athleticism in whatever it is that you're doing and to go there with the intention of sticking it to the man... if that was her intention, then I don't think that's fair because there is someone who's hot on her heels wanting to go there to prove their brilliance and this was just the most unathletic performance... and laughable..."
- Barbara Friedman, Barb's Wire
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the full conversation.