![\"PARIS,](\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/GettyImages-2166052398_5618e5-e1723483027920.jpg?quality=100&w=384&h=216&crop=1\")
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Breaking\u2014the sport of breakdancing\u2014made its Olympic debut in Paris<\/a> and quickly garnered attention due to a now-viral performance by Australian B-girl Rachael \u201cRaygun\u201d Gunn<\/strong>.<\/p>\n On Friday, August 9, Gunn, competing under the name Raygun, didn\u2019t earn a single point, losing 18-0 in each of her battles against three competitors: U.S.\u2019s Logan Edra<\/strong> (Logistx), Lithuania\u2019s Dominika Banevi\u010d<\/strong> (Nicka), and France\u2019s Sya Demb\u00e9l\u00e9<\/strong> (Syssy).<\/p>\n Her moves across three round-robin battles included a kangaroo hop, a backward roll, and various contortions with her body while lying or crawling on the floor.<\/p>\n An odd-numbered panel of judges scored each round and battle based on five criteria: Technique, vocabulary, execution, musicality, and originality. Even though the 36-year-old university lecturer received no points in any category, Gunn defended herself by stating, \u201cAll of my moves are original.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCreativity is really important to me. I go out there, and I show my artistry. Sometimes it speaks to the judges, and sometimes it doesn\u2019t. I do my thing, and it represents art. That is what it is about,\u201d Gunn added during an August 10 press conference, per ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n Aussie break dancer Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn has to be trolling the entire world\ud83e\udd23#Olympics<\/a>\ud83d\udcf7 #raygun<\/a> #Paris2024<\/a>\ud83d\udcf7 #breaking<\/a> #breakdancing<\/a> #aussie<\/a> #Australia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/tiCz6UVCJh<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 immutable truth \ud83d\udc8e (@ImmutabullTruth) August 10, 2024<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI was never going to beat these girls on what they do best\u2014their power moves,\u201d explained Gunn, who has a Ph.D. in cultural studies and researches breaking and hip hop culture. \u201cWhat I bring is creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n Much of the criticism of Raygun\u2019s performance stemmed from her deviation from the athletic twists, spins, and freezes performed by her competitors, as well as from the apparel she wore on the Olympic stage. Instead of executing high-difficulty moves, Gunn opted for slower, more artistic moves and wore a green-and-yellow Australian Olympic tracksuit, paying tribute to her homeland.<\/p>\n Breaking\u2014one of the original four elements of hip-hop, along with DJing, graffiti, and MCing (rapping)\u2014is a dance style that emerged from Black and Latino communities in the Bronx, New York City, in the 1970s. Over the past few decades, the rules of breaking have been established, evolving it into a full-fledged sport that combines the athleticism required for acrobatic moves with the artistry needed to synchronize those moves with the music seamlessly.<\/p>\n Breaking will not be part of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, but the sport\u2019s federation is pushing for its inclusion in the 2032 Games in Brisbane, Australia.<\/p>\n Gunn, who qualified for the Olympics by winning last year\u2019s Oceania Breaking Championships, has also addressed the criticism, sharing an Instagram post<\/a> from the Australian breaking team quoting her saying, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to be different.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGo out there and represent yourself,\u201d Gunn was quoted as saying. \u201cYou never know where that\u2019s gonna take you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n