How Australian break-dancer Raygun qualified for the 2024 Olympics… after her performance in Paris went viral | HO

Olympics viewers were left puzzled over Australian breaker Raygun’s performance in Paris on Friday afternoon.

The 36-year-old, whose real name is Rachael Gunn, went viral after awkwardly squirming on the dance floor, displaying a much lower skill level than many of her competitors.

However, footage has emerged of the performance that ensured Raygun’s qualification for the 2024 Games.

A video posted last November showed her competing against another breaker named Molly in the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships.

Dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a burgundy jacket, she put her skills on display as she spun around and writhed on the ground.

B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia competes during the B-Girls Round Robin

New footage has emerged of Raygun qualifying for the Olympics after her 0-3 performance

She won the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023 before the Paris Games

Raygun competed in three qualifying rounds on Friday, and the Australian ultimately scored no points against any of her three rivals.

She is, however, Australia’s top-ranking breakdancer and a creative arts researcher specializing in ‘the cultural politics of breakdancing’ at Sydney’s Macquarie University.

Shortly after her performance on the world stage, she broke her silence by sharing a cryptic message on Instagram.

Reposting a message from the ‘Breaking for Gold’ account, she quoted herself saying: ‘Don’t be afraid to be different. Go out there and represent yourself, you never know where that’s gonna take you.’

While many mocked Raygun’s ’embarrassing’ performance, she also earned plenty of new fans who praised her for her determination in competing against athletes more than half her age.

‘I could live all my life and never come up with anything as funny as Raygun, the 36-year-old Australian Olympic breakdancer,’ one user wrote on X alongside a clip of the Olympian.

The Australian, 36, quickly went viral on social media for her quirky display at the Olympics

She took to social media shortly after and shared a cryptic message to her 4,000 followers

Gunn gestures next to Team USA’s Logistx during the dance round robin event in Paris

‘Never watched breaking before but I can already tell Raygun doesn’t have a chance in this event,’ another added.

‘Raygun breaking looks like 5 year old me going up to my mom like ‘look what I can do’,’ a third quipped.

Others commended the Aussie for her confidence and courage.

‘Props to Raygun for having the guts to go out there,’ one user suggested. ‘But this was the most second hand embarrassment I’ve ever felt.’

‘Raygun from Australia is my Olympic hero actually,’ another added.

Meanwhile, a sixth user wrote: ‘Raygun, I’m sure you’re a sweet lady, but man,’ with a laughing and crying emoji.

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